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Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) exposure in children: possible associations with cardiovascular and
Brooks B Gump1, Sehun Yun2, Kurunthachalam Kannan3
1Department of Public Health, Food Studies, and Nutrition, Syracuse University, Syracuse NY 13244, USA.
Insights
This study found that higher polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) levels in children
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Health
- Toxicology
Background:
- Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widely used flame retardants found globally in human and animal blood.
- Limited research exists on the adverse health effects of PBDE exposure in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between blood PBDE levels and cardiovascular stress responses in children.
- To determine the relationship between PBDE exposure and psychological states, such as hostility and depression, in children.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 43 children.
- Measured blood levels of four PBDE congeners (BDE-28, -47, -99, -100).
- Analyzed PBDE levels against cardiovascular disease risk factors, stress responses, and psychological variables.
Main Results:
- Elevated blood PBDE levels correlated with increased sympathetic nervous system activation during acute stress.
- Higher PBDE concentrations were significantly associated with greater anger in children, measured by three different indicators.
Conclusions:
- PBDE exposure in children is linked to altered cardiovascular stress responses and increased anger.
- These findings suggest potential relevance to future cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
- Further research with larger cohorts is needed to confirm these associations.
Background:
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) have been used widely in consumer products and are currently found at detectable levels in the blood of humans and animals across the globe. In stark contrast to this widespread exposure to PBDEs, there is relatively little research on potential adverse health effects of exposure of children to these chemicals.
Objectives:
We performed this cross-sectional study to determine if blood PBDE levels (for 4 congeners) are associated with cardiovascular stress responses and psychological states in children.
Methods:
Levels of 4 PBDE congeners (BDE-28, -47, -99, and -100) in whole blood were measured in children (N=43). These levels were analyzed in relation to cardiovascular disease risk factors, including cardiovascular responses to acute stress and relevant psychological variables, namely, hostility and depression.
Results:
Higher levels of blood PBDEs were associated with significantly greater sympathetic activation during acute psychological stress and greater anger, as evidenced by significant associations with 3 different measures of this psychological variable.
Conclusions:
This study suggests an association between PBDE exposure and children's cardiovascular responses to stress as well as parental and self-reported anger in the child. These variables are particularly important as they may be of potential relevance to the future development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although intriguing, there is a need for further investigation and replication with a larger sample of children.
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