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Polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardant concentrations in faeces from young children in Queensland, Australia
Karin English1, Yiqin Chen2, Leisa-Maree Toms3
1School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Children's Health and Environment Program, Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Insights
Children
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Toxicology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are flame retardants with potential health implications.
- Assessing children's exposure to PBDEs is crucial for understanding risks.
- Non-invasive methods for exposure monitoring are desirable.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate children's exposure to PBDEs using faecal samples.
- To correlate PBDE levels with questionnaire-based exposure assessment data.
- To evaluate faeces as a matrix for PBDE exposure monitoring in children.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of faecal samples from 61 children (aged 3 months to 2 years) using high-resolution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.
- Administration of a pre-tested online questionnaire to parents regarding home and behavioral factors.
- Quantification of specific PBDE congeners, including BDE-209, BDE-47, and BDE-153.
Main Results:
- BDE-209 was the dominant congener detected in over 80% of faecal samples.
- BDE-47 and BDE-153 were detected in approximately 60% of samples.
- Age, home characteristics (carpet, pets), and behaviors (hand-to-mouth, outdoor activity) were associated with PBDE concentrations.
Conclusions:
- Faecal analysis is a potentially viable non-invasive method for monitoring children's PBDE exposure.
- Further validation studies are needed to confirm these findings due to the small sample size.
- Environmental and behavioral factors influence PBDE exposure in young children.
Abstract:
The aim of our study was to investigate children's exposure to the flame retardants polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) by analysing faecal content, a non-invasive matrix, as well as responses to an exposure-assessment questionnaire. A convenience sample of 61 parents with children (aged >3 months to <2 years) completed an online pre-tested questionnaire and provided faecal samples for analysis by high resolution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. BDE-209 was the dominant congener in faecal samples adjusted to 8.3ng/g dry weight (dw), with >80% samples above the limit of detection (LOD). BDE-47 (0.23ng/g dw) and BDE-153 (0.03ng/g dw) were each detected above the LOD in approximately 60% of samples. Age was associated with BDE-47 (-7%/month) and BDE-153 (-12%/month) concentrations in faeces, but not BDE-209. Other variables associated with PBDE concentrations included features of the home (carpet, pets) and behaviour (hand-to-mouth, removing shoes, using a car sunshade, frequency of walks outdoors). However, given the small sample size of this study additional research is required to confirm these findings. In this study we demonstrated that faeces may be a viable alternative to monitor human exposure to PBDEs, but further validation studies are required.
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