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Children show highest levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in a California family of four: a case study
Douglas Fischer1, Kim Hooper, Maria Athanasiadou
1Oakland Tribune, Oakland, California 94612, USA. dfischer@oaklandtribune.com
Insights
Children exhibit significantly higher polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) levels than adults, with younger children showing the highest exposure. Reduced exposure to decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) indicates rapid clearance, suggesting children face greater PBDE health risks.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Toxicology
- Human Exposure Science
Background:
- Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widely used flame retardants and persistent environmental contaminants.
- Elevated human exposure to PBDEs is a significant public health concern, particularly in the United States.
- Limited data exists on PBDE levels within family units and age-related exposure differences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify and compare PBDE congener concentrations in serum from a family across different age groups.
- To investigate temporal changes in PBDE levels and identify potential exposure sources.
- To assess the relative risk of PBDE exposure for children compared to adults.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples were collected from family members on two occasions, 90 days apart.
- Analysis of various PBDE congeners, including lower-brominated and decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209), was performed.
- Lipid weight normalization was used for concentration comparisons.
Main Results:
- Children had 2- to 5-fold higher lower-brominated PBDE levels than their parents.
- PBDE concentrations, such as BDE-47, were highest in the youngest child.
- Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) levels decreased significantly (10-fold) between sampling periods, correlating with a short half-life and reduced exposure.
Conclusions:
- Children, especially younger ones, are disproportionately exposed to PBDEs compared to adults.
- House dust is a potential contributor to higher PBDE levels in children.
- The findings suggest children face elevated risks from PBDE-related health effects due to higher exposure levels.
Abstract:
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a major class of flame retardants, are ubiquitous environmental contaminants with particularly high concentrations in humans from the United States. This study is a first attempt to report and compare PBDE concentrations in blood drawn from a family. Serum samples from family members collected at two sampling occasions 90 days apart were analyzed for PBDE congeners. Concentrations of the lower-brominated PBDEs were similar at the two sampling times for each family member, with children's levels 2- to 5-fold higher than those of their parents. Concentrations of, for example, 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) varied from 32 ng/g lipid weight (lw) in the father to 60, 137, and 245 ng/g lw in the mother, child, and toddler, respectively. Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) concentrations differed significantly between the two samplings. September concentrations in the father, mother, child, and toddler were 23, 14, 143, and 233 ng/g lw, respectively. December concentrations (duplicate results from the laboratory) were 2 and 3, 4 and 4, 9 and 12, and 19 and 26 ng/g lw, respectively. Parents' summation operatorPBDE concentrations approached U.S. median concentrations, with children's concentrations near the maximum (top 5%) found in U.S. adults. The youngest child had the highest concentrations of all PBDE congeners, suggesting that younger children are more exposed to PBDEs than are adults. Our estimates indicate that house dust contributes to children's higher PBDE levels. BDE-209 levels for all family members were 10-fold lower at the second sampling. The short half-life of BDE-209 (15 days) indicates that BDE-209 levels can decrease rapidly in response to decreased exposures. This case study suggests that children are at higher risk for PBDE exposures and, accordingly, face higher risks of PBDE-related health effects than adults.
