Food contamination on flame retardants

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) and novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) in indoor dust: A systematic review on concentration, spatial distribution, sources, and human exposure

In recent years, the indoor exposure of organophosphate esters (OPEs) and novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) has received widespread attention worldwide. Using published data on 6 OPEs in 23 countries (n = 1437) and 2 NBFRs in 18 countries (n = 826) in indoor dust, this study systematically reviewed the concentrations, spatial distribution, sources and exposure risk of 8 flame retardants (FRs) worldwide. Tris(chloroisopropyl)phosphate (TCIPP) is the predominant FR with a median concentration of 1050 ng g-1 ΣCl-OPEs are significantly higher than Σnon-Cl-OPEs (p < 0.05). ΣOPEs in indoor dust from industrially-developed countries are higher than those from the countries lacking industrial development. Household appliances, electronics and plastic products are the main sources of non-Cl-OPEs and NBFRs, while interior decorations and materials contribute abundant Cl-OPEs in indoor dust. The mean hazard index (HI) of TCIPP for children is greater than 1, possibly posing non-cancer risk for children in some countries. The median ILCRs for 3 carcinogenic OPEs are all less than 10-6, suggesting no cancer risk induced by these compounds for both adults and children. This review helps to understand the composition, spatial pattern and human exposure risk of OPEs and NBFRs in indoor dust worldwide.

Update of the risk assessment of hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDDs) in food

The European Commission asked EFSA to update its 2011 risk assessment on hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDDs) in food. HBCDDs, predominantly mixtures of the stereoisomers α-, β- and γ-HBCDD, were widely used additive flame retardants. Concern has been raised because of the occurrence of HBCDDs in the environment, food and in humans. Main targets for toxicity are neurodevelopment, the liver, thyroid hormone homeostasis and the reproductive and immune systems. The CONTAM Panel concluded that the neurodevelopmental effects on behaviour in mice can be considered the critical effects. Based on effects on spontaneous behaviour in mice, the Panel identified a lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) of 0.9 mg/kg body weight (bw) as the Reference Point, corresponding to a body burden of 0.75 mg/kg bw. The chronic intake that would lead to the same body burden in humans was calculated to be 2.35 μg/kg bw per day. The derivation of a health-based guidance value (HBGV) was not considered appropriate. Instead, the margin of exposure (MOE) approach was applied to assess possible health concerns. Over 6,000 analytical results for HBCDDs in food were used to estimate the exposure across dietary surveys and age groups of the European population. The most important contributors to the chronic dietary LB exposure to HBCDDs were fish meat, eggs, livestock meat and poultry. The CONTAM Panel concluded that the resulting MOE values support the conclusion that current dietary exposure to HBCDDs across European countries does not raise a health concern. An exception is breastfed infants with high milk consumption, for which the lowest MOE values may raise a health concern.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDD), dechlorane-related compounds (DRCs), and emerging brominated flame retardants (EBFRs) in foods: The levels, profiles, and dietary intake in Latvia

This study was performed to assess the Latvian population exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDD), dechlorane-related compounds (DRCs), and emerging brominated flame retardants (EBFRs). Food items including fish, fish products, meat, dairy products, cereals and bread, eggs, vegetable oils, and sweets were analyzed for the content of these contaminants, followed by per capita intake calculations and risk assessment. The highest dietary exposure for general population was observed in the case of HBCDD, .reaching an estimated daily intake (EDI) value of 2.92 ng kg^-1 b.w. (or 3.35 ng kg^-1 b.w. if an outlying data point is included), followed by PBDEs with EDI of 1.24 ng kg^-1 b.w., including ~25% contribution of PBDE-209 to the overall EDI from PBDEs. DRCs and EBFRs were secondary contributors to the total intake of selected flame retardants (FRs), with the observed EDIs of 0.46 and 0.47 ng kg^-1 b.w, respectively. The obtained occurrence data and risk characterization according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) approach showed the calculated margin of exposure (MOE) values higher than the critical values for PBDE-47, -99 and -153as well as for HBCDD, indicating that the estimated dietary exposures are unlikely to be of significant health concern for the Latvian population. At the same time, it should be pointed out that the risk assessment was performed only for five out of the twenty-five selected halogenated flame retardants (HFRs), while cumulative effects due to the potential presence of other HFRs and their biodegradation products were not considered.