Serum measures of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) and polyborminated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in reproductive-aged women in the United Kingdom

Drage, Daniel S.; Heffernan, Amy L.; Cunningham, Thomas K.; Aylward, Lesa L.; Mueller, Jochen F.; Sathyapalan, Thozhukat; Atkin, Stephen L.

Abstract

We investigated the serum concentrations of two brominated flame retardants (BFRs) – polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) –in 59 women aged between 23 and 42 from the United Kingdom. We also collected demographic data, including age, bodyweight and height in order to test for associations with BFR levels. Temporal and global differences were also assessed using previously published data.

HBCDD was detected in 68% of samples with a mean concentration of 2.2 ng/g lipid (range =< 0.3–13 ng/g lipid). The dominant stereoisomer was α-HBCDD with an average contribution of 82% (0–100%) towards ΣHBCDD, was followed by γ-HBCDD (average contribution = 17%). PBDEs were detected in 95% of samples with a mean ∑PBDE (sum of BDEs −28, −47, −99, −100, −153, −154 and −183) concentration of 2.4 ng/g lipid (range = 2.5 since 2010. Whilst the human body burden appear to be decreasing, both PBDEs and HBCDD are still consistently detected in human serum, despite legislative action limiting their production and use. This highlights the need to continuously assess human exposure and the effectiveness of policy aimed at reducing exposure.

Citation

Drage, D. S., Heffernan, A. L., Cunningham, T. K., Aylward, L. L., Mueller, J. F., Sathyapalan, T., & Atkin, S. L. (2019). Serum measures of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) and polyborminated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in reproductive-aged women in the United Kingdom. Environmental Research, 177, Article 108631. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2019.108631

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 4, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Aug 6, 2019
• Publication Date: 2019-10
• Deposit Date: Aug 14, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 7, 2020
• Journal: Environmental Research
• Print ISSN: 0013-9351
• Electronic ISSN: 1096-0953
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 177
• Article Number: 108631
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2019.108631
• Keywords: Biochemistry; General Environmental Science
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/2363009
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935119304281?via%3Dihub
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Serum measures of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) and polyborminated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in reproductive-aged women in the United Kingdom; Journal Title: Environmental Research; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2019.108631; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.