GROUP:
PBDE Family 7
health & safety concerns: |
chemicals found | ||
| on average | indivi- dual range |
entire group | |
| Reproduction and fertility | 8 | 7-8 | 8 |
| Brain and nervous system | 8 | 7-8 | 8 |
Group members:
(2 People)
Locations:
Missoula, MT
Group: PBDE Family 7
Found 8 of 20 tested chemicals (2 participants)
The blood of the "PBDE Family 7" group contained 8 of 20 industrial compounds, pollutants and other chemicals tested, including chemicals linked to reproductive toxicity and fertility problems, brain and nervous system toxicity,
Summary of chemicals found in PBDE Family 7
| chemical family | level found in group | health effects | exposure routes |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) | 100% moderate | Reproduction and fertility, Brain and nervous system | Foam furniture, carpet padding, computers, televisions, contaminated house dust, food |
Detailed report by chemical (return to summary)
polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pbdes)
8 of 20 found
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
Fire retardants in furniture foam, computers, and televisions. Accumulate in human tissues. May harm brain development.
- geometric mean: 28.2 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 26.3 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
[excludes PBDE-154/PBB-153] - found in 2 of 2 people in the group (vs. 2,037 of 2,337 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Laurie Yung, Conner Adams
| 1.11 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 314 |
    | ||
Total Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
- geometric mean: 0.365 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 0.385 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in 2 of 2 people in the group (vs. 40 of 40 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in: Laurie Yung, Conner Adams
| 0.11 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 1.95 |
| | ||
Decabrominated diphenyl ethers
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.
A fire retardant used in TVs, monitors and electronics. Growing evidence that chemical breaks down in the environment to more persistent and toxic forms.
- geometric mean: 1.79 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in 1 of 2 people in the group (vs. 37 of 116 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in: Laurie Yung
| ng/g lipids in blood serum | 270 | |
| | ||
Hexabrominated diphenyl ethers
Brominated fire retardants used in foam and plastics. Break down into more toxic and persistent forms in the environment. Withdrawn from the market in the U.S. in 2005.
- geometric mean: 13.4 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 4.1 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in 2 of 2 people in the group (vs. 116 of 116 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in: Laurie Yung, Conner Adams
| 0.238 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 76.9 |
| | ||
- geometric mean: 1.75 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 2.48 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in 2 of 2 people in the group (vs. 38 of 38 in all EWG/Commonweal studies)
- found in: Laurie Yung, Conner Adams
| 0.45 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 15.4 |
| | ||
Pentabrominated diphenyl ethers
Brominated fire retardants used in polyurethan foam and plastics. These PBDEs are neurotoxic and persist in people and the environment. They were withdrawn from the market in the U.S. in 2005.
- geometric mean: 1.5 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 3.03 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 2 of 2 people in the group (vs. 1,918 of 2,337 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Laurie Yung, Conner Adams
| 0.00528 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 32.6 |
| | ||
In PBDE chemical family - fire retardant in furniture foam, computers, televisions; may harm brain development and hormone systems.
- geometric mean: 1.32 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 4.32 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 2 of 2 people in the group (vs. 1,395 of 2,337 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Laurie Yung, Conner Adams
| 0.0786 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 31.2 |
| | ||
Tetrabrominated diphenyl ethers
Brominated fire retardants used in polyurethan foam and plastics. These PBDEs are neurotoxic and persist in people and the environment. They were withdrawn from the market in the U.S. in 2005.
In PBDE chemical family - fire retardant in furniture foam, computers, televisions; may harm brain development and hormone systems.
- geometric mean: 8.51 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 15 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 2 of 2 people in the group (vs. 1,975 of 2,337 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Laurie Yung, Conner Adams
| 0.33 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 143 |
| | ||
Tribrominated diphenyl ethers
Brominated fire retardants used in polyurethan foam and plastics. These PBDEs are neurotoxic and persist in people and the environment. They were withdrawn from the market in the U.S. in 2005.
- geometric mean: 0.73 ng/g lipids in blood serum (vs. 0.3 in CDC biomonitoring [1])
- found in 2 of 2 people in the group (vs. 100 of 2,337 in CDC biomonitoring)
- found in: Conner Adams, Laurie Yung
| 0.0385 | ng/g lipids in blood serum | 6.17 |
| | ||
References/Notes
[1] CDC (2005). National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals, Centers for Disease Control. http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/. (Methylmercury results have been compared to total mercury in CDC biomonitoring.)
