Assessment of human exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers in China via fish consumption and inhalation

This study examined human exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) associated with fish consumption and inhalation in China. The median intake of sigma7 PBDEs via human milk was 48.2 ng/day for nursing infants (0-1 years old) (a range of 23.4-99.1 ng/day). For all other age groups, the median intake of sigma11 PBDEs via fish consumption was 1.7-12.9 ng/day with a range of 0.59-56.3 ng/g. Additionally, human exposure to PBDEs via inhalation was 2.7-9.2 ng/day (a range of 0.72-108 ng/day). The median total sigma11 PBDEs intakes for nursing infants (6874 and 7372 pg/ kg b.w./day for males and females, respectively) were much higher than other age groups (215-608 pg/kg b.w./ day). No significant difference in the total PBDEs intakes was found between males and females. Of the 11 PBDEs congeners, BDE-47 was predominant in the total intake for nursing infants with a mean contribution of 38%, whereas BDE-209 was the dominant congener of total intake for other age groups, varying from 44 to 61%. Currently, the PBDEs levels in Chinese consumer fish and the total intakes of PBDEs via fish consumption were at the lower end of the global range. Compared with similar studies in other countries, however, human exposure to PBDEs via inhalation in China was relatively high. Overall, estimated daily intake of total PBDEs in the Chinese population was far below the LOAEL. However, studies are needed to further understand the fate and impact of PBDEs as PBDE-containing products are still used widely in large quantities in China.