chemical Class
Decabrominated diphenyl ether
Chemicals in the class:
Found in these people:
Rani Corey-Sheaffer, Teri Olle, Susan Comfort, Angela Strother, Meredith Buhalis, Anonymous, Leila Feldman, Erika Schreder, Laurie Yung, Lisa, Margaret Hardin, Jill, Anonymous, Susanne Green, Darcy White, Jennifer Scheinz, Baby #3, U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter, Kathy Fowler, Baby #5, Baby #4, Anonymous Child #42, Greta Hardin, Tavin , Jennifer Scheinz, Brynn Dickman, Laurie Yung, Erika Schreder, Hannelore Peters, Lauren, Mckenzie Green, Anonymous Mom #11, Anonymous Child #11, Laura Spark, Naomi Carrigg, Anonymous Mom #13, Anonymous Child #13, Olivia Brune, Bronwyn, Teo, Anonymous Child #17, Zade Little, Maija West, Adult B, Cord Blood Sample 16, Cord Blood Sample 11, Cord Blood Sample 13, Cord Blood Sample 19, Cord Blood Sample 18
Found in these locations:
Jamiaca Plain, MA; San Francisco, CA; Washington, DC; Gainesville, FL; Ann Arbor, MI; Nashville, TN; Austin, TX; Seattle, WA; Missoula, MT; Portland, OR; Evergreen, CO; Canton, GA; Burke, VA; Raytown, MO; Helena, MT; Upstate New York, NY; Rockville, MD; Lake Forest Park, WA; Colorado Springs, CO; Minneapolis, MN; Anchorage, AK; Boston, MA; Alameda, CA; Riverside, CA; Taos, NM
Summary
Deca-brominated PBDEs are currently used as fire retardants in plastics for computer monitors, television sets and other electronic products.
Deca appears to have neurotoxic effects to laboratory animals exposed during early development. (Viberg H. 2006) A study exposing mice to a single low dose (2.2 mg/kg) of Deca during a during neonatal brain development caused irreversible changes in adult brain function which worsened with age. (Viberg 2003)
The other pressing health concern is the extent to which is it a source of less-brominated, and more toxic forms of PBDEs in humans and the environment. Dozens of laboratory studies show that Deca photodegrades under a range of conditions, and it even is broken down in the bodies of fish fed pure Deca in their diets. (Soderstrom G. 2004; Stapleton H.M. 2006)
Studies of laboratory animals link PBDE exposure to an array of adverse health effects including thyroid hormone disruption, permanent learning and memory impairment, behavioral changes, hearing deficits, delayed puberty onset, decreased sperm count, and fetal malformations. (Darnerud 2003; Hale R.C. 2003) Research in animals shows that exposure to brominated fire retardants in-utero or during infancy leads to more significant harm than exposure during adulthood, and at much lower levels. (Viberg H 2006)
Deca has been detected in several studies of adult blood serum, fat tissues and breast milk. It appears to exist in higher concentrations in blood lipid than in breast milk. Very little data exists on concentrations in pregnant women and young children.
Decabrominated diphenyl ether
Brominated fire retardants currently used in plastics and fabric. The major use is in electronic devices; the minor use is as a backcoating on industrial fabrics. Are directly toxic to mammals and breakdown to more dangerous forms in the environment.
Decabrominated diphenyl ether has been found in 55 of the 138 people tested in EWG/Commonweal studies.
Top health concerns for Decabrominated diphenyl ether (References)
| health concern or target organ | weight of evidence |
| Reproduction and fertility | unknown |
| Brain and nervous system | unknown |
Toxicity Classifications (References)
| classification | governing entity/references |
| Nervous system toxicity - weight of evidence unknown/unassessed | Viberg, 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. |
| Reproductive effects - weight of evidence unknown/unassessed | McDonald, T. A. (2002). A perspective on the potential health risks of PBDEs. Chemosphere 46: 11. |
