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Qadeer A, Mubeen S, Liu M, Bekele TG, Ohoro CR, Adeniji AO, Alraih AM, Ajmal Z, Alshammari AS, Al-Hadeethi Y, Archundia D, Yuan S, Jiang X, Wang S, Li X, Sauvé S. Global environmental and toxicological impacts of polybrominated diphenyl ethers versus organophosphate esters: A comparative analysis and regrettable substitution dilemma. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 466:133543. [PMID: 38262318 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
The prevalence of organophosphate esters (OPEs) in the global environment is increasing, which aligns with the decline in the usage of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). PBDEs, a category of flame retardants, were banned and classified as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) through the Stockholm Convention due to their toxic and persistent properties. Despite a lack of comprehensive understanding of their ecological and health consequences, OPEs were adopted as replacements for PBDEs. This research aims to offer a comparative assessment of PBDEs and OPEs in various domains, specifically focusing on their persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity (PBT) properties. This study explored physicochemical properties (such as molecular weight, octanol-water partition coefficient, octanol-air partition coefficient, Henry's law constant, and vapor pressures), environmental behaviors, global concentrations in environmental matrices (air, water, and soil), toxicities, bioaccumulation, and trophic transfer mechanisms of both groups of compounds. Based on the comparison and analysis of environmental and toxicological data, we evaluate whether OPEs represent another instance of regrettable substitution and global contamination as much as PBDEs. Our findings indicate that the physical and chemical characteristics, environmental behaviors, and global concentrations of PBDEs and OPEs, are similar and overlap in many instances. Notably, OPE concentrations have even surged by orders of several magnitude compared to PBDEs in certain pristine regions like the Arctic and Antarctic, implying long-range transport. In many instances, air and water concentrations of OPEs have been increased than PBDEs. While the bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) of PBDEs (ranging from 4.8 to 7.5) are slightly elevated compared to OPEs (-0.5 to 5.36) in aquatic environments, both groups of compounds exhibit BAF values beyond the threshold of 5000 L/kg (log10 BAF > 3.7). Similarly, the trophic magnification factors (TMFs) for PBDEs (ranging from 0.39 to 4.44) slightly surpass those for OPEs (ranging from 1.06 to 3.5) in all cases. Metabolic biotransformation rates (LogKM) and hydrophobicity are potentially major factors deciding their trophic magnification potential. However, many compounds of PBDEs and OPEs show TMF values higher than 1, indicating biomagnification potential. Collectively, all data suggest that PBDEs and OPEs have the potential to bioaccumulate and transfer through the food chain. OPEs and PBDEs present a myriad of toxicity endpoints, with notable overlaps encompassing reproductive issues, oxidative stress, developmental defects, liver dysfunction, DNA damage, neurological toxicity, reproductive anomalies, carcinogenic effects, and behavior changes. Based on our investigation and comparative analysis, we conclude that substituting PBDEs with OPEs is regrettable based on PBT properties, underscoring the urgency for policy reforms and effective management strategies. Addressing this predicament before an exacerbation of global contamination is imperative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Qadeer
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, Beijing, China.
| | - Sidra Mubeen
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, Beijing, China; Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, Superior University Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Mengyang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Tadiyose Girma Bekele
- Department of Biology, Eastern Nazarene College, 23 East Elm Avenue, Quincy, MA 02170, USA
| | - Chinemerem R Ohoro
- Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North, West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
| | - Abiodun O Adeniji
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, National University of Lesotho, Lesotho
| | - Alhafez M Alraih
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Arts, Mohail Aseer, King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia
| | - Zeeshan Ajmal
- College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Ahmad S Alshammari
- King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yas Al-Hadeethi
- Physics Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Denisse Archundia
- Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, CDMX, México 04510, Mexico
| | - Shengwu Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, Beijing, China
| | - Xia Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, Beijing, China.
| | - Shuhang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, Beijing, China.
| | - Xixi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, Beijing, China.
| | - Sébastien Sauvé
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Campus MIL, 1375 Av. Thérèse-Lavoie-Roux, Montréal H2V 0B3, QC, Canada
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Shi X, Wu R, Wang X, Huang W, Zheng S, Zhang Q, Peng J, Tan W, Wu K. Effects of 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) on reproductive and endocrine function in female zebrafish (Danio rerio). ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 248:114326. [PMID: 36435001 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a group of brominated flame retardants (BFRs), were reported exist extensively in various ecological environmental. Studies have indicated that PBDEs induce reproductive toxic effects on human health, but the mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, the adult female zebrafish were used to investigate the effects of 2, 2', 4, 4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) on the reproductive endocrine system and its mechanism. METHODS Female zebrafish (AB strains) were continuously exposed to BDE-47 at the concentrations of 0, 10, 50, 100 and 500 µg/L till 21 days. The morphology of ovary were stained and evaluated with hematoxylin-eosin (H&E), and levels of sex hormones including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T) and 17β-estradiol (E2) and the biomarkers of oxidative stress such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA), were measured via ELISA. Subsequently, the expression of genes along the hypothalamic pituitary-gonad (HPG) and oxidative stress were determined using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). RESULT The results showed that exposure to high level of BDE-47 reduced the index of condition factor (CF) and gonadosomatic index (GSI). Treatment with BDE-47 impaired the normal development and structure of oocytes in zebrafish ovary. Moreover, the steroid hormone of FSH, LH, T and E2 were significantly decreased in BDE-47 exposure group. A dose-dependent elevation in SOD activity and MDA levels were recorded. Meanwhile, the transcription level of cyp19a, cyp19b, fshβ, lhβ were up-regulated while the transcription of fshr, lhr, cyp17a, 17βhsd were down-regulated in the gonad of female adult zebrafish. CONCLUSION Exposure to BDE-47 have detrimental impact on the development of ovary, decreasing sex hormone levels, inducing oxidative damage as well as altering HPG axis-related genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoling Shi
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Ruotong Wu
- School ofLife Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, Fujian, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Wenlong Huang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Shukai Zheng
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Qiong Zhang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiajun Peng
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Wei Tan
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Kusheng Wu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
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Jiang Y, Yuan L, Lin Q, Ma S, Yu Y. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in the environment and human external and internal exposure in China: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 696:133902. [PMID: 31470322 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.133902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2019] [Revised: 08/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widely used as brominated flame retardants. Because of their toxicity and persistence, some PBDEs were restricted under the Stockholm Convention in 2009. Since then, many studies have been carried out on PBDEs in China and in many other countries. In the present review, the occurrences and contamination of PBDEs in air, water, sediment, soil, biota and daily food, human blood, hair, and other human tissues in China are comprehensively reviewed and described. The human exposure pathways and associated health risks of PBDEs are summarized. The data showed no obvious differences between North and South China, but concentrations from West China were generally lower than in East China, which can be mainly attributed to the production and widespread use of PBDEs in eastern regions. High levels of PBDEs were generally observed in the PBDE production facilities (e.g., Jiangsu Province and Shandong Province, East China) and e-waste recycling sites (Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, East China, and Guiyu City and Qingyuan City, both located in Guangdong Province, South China) and large cities, whereas low levels were detected in rural and less-developed areas, especially in remote regions such as the Tibetan Plateau. Deca-BDE is generally the major congener. Existing problems for PBDE investigations in China are revealed, and further studies are also discussed and anticipated. In particular, non-invasive matrices such as hair should be more thoroughly studied; more accurate estimations of human exposure and health risks should be performed, such as adding bioaccessibility or bioavailability to human exposure assessments; and the degradation products and metabolites of PBDEs in human bodies should receive more attention. More investigations should be carried out to evaluate the quantitative relationships between internal and external exposure so as to provide a scientific basis for ensuring human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufeng Jiang
- School of Environmental & Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, PR China
| | - Longmiao Yuan
- School of Environmental & Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, PR China
| | - Qinhao Lin
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Shentao Ma
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Synergy Innovation Institute of GDUT, Shantou 515100, China
| | - Yingxin Yu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China.
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Drouillard KG, Qian Y, Lafontaine J, Ismail N, McPhedran K, Szalinska E, Grgicak-Mannion A. Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in Sediments of the Huron-Erie Corridor. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2019; 102:450-456. [PMID: 30848311 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-019-02581-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were measured in 182 sediments from the Huron-Erie Corridor, North America. The median (5-95 percentile) Corridor ∑PBDE concentration was 1.03 ng/g dry wt (0.25-13.48 ng/g dry wt). Dry weight ∑PBDEs were elevated in U.S. waters of the Detroit River (US DR) and lowest in Canadian waters of Lake St. Clair (CA LSC). Sediment total organic carbon (TOC) explained some of the variation in ∑PBDEs, particularly in upstream waterbodies except for the Detroit River where local sources were apparent in the US DR and TOC-dilution occurred in CA DR. Canadian Federal Sediment Quality guidelines were exceeded at 19 stations, 14 occurring in the US DR. ∑Hazard Quotients (∑HQ) had a median (5-95 percentile) Corridor value of 0.46 (ND to 2.27). By strata, 43.2% of US DR stations had ∑HQ's greater than 1 while 21.3% of US SCR stations exceeded a value of 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken G Drouillard
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, N9B3P4, Canada.
| | - Yu Qian
- School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, Yunnan, China
| | - Joseph Lafontaine
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, N9B3P4, Canada
| | - Nargis Ismail
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, N9B3P4, Canada
| | - Kerry McPhedran
- Department of Civil, Geological and Environmental Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Dr, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5A9, Canada
| | - Ewa Szalinska
- Department of Environment Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, Kraków, Poland
| | - Alice Grgicak-Mannion
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, N9B3P4, Canada
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