chemical information
Chemical Class:

Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE)

Chemical SubClass

Found in these people:

Susan Comfort, Anonymous Child #42, Katrina Alcorn, Ruby Alcorn, Greta Hardin, Tavin , Teri Olle, Natalie Comerford, Jennifer Scheinz, Elijah Scheinz, Hillary Dickman, Brynn Dickman, Laurie Yung, Conner Adams, Erika Schreder, Hannelore Peters, Christi, Lauren, Susanne Fleek, Mckenzie Green, Anonymous Mom #11, Anonymous Child #11, Laura Spark, Naomi Carrigg, Anonymous Mom #13, Anonymous Child #13, Tess, Nicolas, Mary Brune, Olivia Brune, Bronwyn, Teo, Anonymous Mom #17, Anonymous Child #17, Tracy Herndon, Zade Little, Maija West, Eva West, Liz, Evan

Found in these locations:

Washington, DC; Oakland, CA; Lake Forest Park, WA; San Francisco, CA; Helena, MT; Colorado Springs, CO; Missoula, MT; Seattle, WA; Minneapolis, MN; Anchorage, AK; Boston, MA; Portland, OR; Alameda, CA; Riverside, CA; Taos, NM; Clinton, CT





PBDE-197

PBDE-197 has been found in 40 of the 40 people tested in EWG/Commonweal studies.


Top health concerns for PBDE-197 (References)

health concern or target organ weight of evidence
Reproduction and fertilityunknown
Brain and nervous systemunknown


Results for PBDE-197

in blood serum (lipid weight)

Showing results from EWG Study #9, flame retardants in mothers and children

EWG/Commonweal results

  • geometric mean: 0.385 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
  • found in 40 of 40 people in the group
0.11 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum 1.95


PBDE-197 results


Detailed toxicity classifications (References)

classification governing entity/references
Reproductive effects - weight of evidence unknown/unassessedMcDonald, T. A. (2002). A perspective on the potential health risks of PBDEs. Chemosphere 46: 11.
Nervous system toxicity - weight of evidence unknown/unassessedViberg, H., Fredriksson, A., Jakobsson, E., Orn, U., Eriksson, P. (2003). Neurobehavioral derangements in adult mice receiving decabrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE 209) during a defined period of neonatal brain development. Toxicol Sci 76(1): 112-20.