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Ma Y, Stubbings WA, Jin J, Cline-Cole R, Abdallah MAE, Harrad S. Impact of Legislation on Brominated Flame Retardant Concentrations in UK Indoor and Outdoor Environments: Evidence for Declining Indoor Emissions of Some Legacy BFRs. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:4237-4246. [PMID: 38386008 PMCID: PMC10919073 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD), and novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) were measured in indoor dust, indoor air, and outdoor air in Birmingham, UK. Concentrations of ΣBFRs ranged from 490 to 89,000 ng/g, 46-14,000 pg/m3, and 22-11,000 pg/m3, respectively, in UK indoor dust, indoor air, and outdoor air. BDE-209 and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) were the main contributors. The maximum concentration of DBDPE (10,000 pg/m3) in outdoor air is the highest reported anywhere to date. In contrast with previous studies of outdoor air in Birmingham, we observed significant correlations between concentrations of tri- to hepta-BDEs and HBCDD and temperature. This may suggest that primary emissions from ongoing use of these BFRs have diminished and that secondary emissions (e.g., evaporation from soil) are now a potentially major source of these BFRs in outdoor air. Conversely, the lack of significant correlations between temperature and concentrations of BDE-209 and DBDPE may indicate that ongoing primary emissions from indoor sources remain important for these BFRs. Further research to clarify the relative importance of primary and secondary sources of BFRs to outdoor air is required. Comparison with earlier studies in Birmingham reveals significant (p < 0.05) declines in concentrations of legacy BFRs, but significant increases for NBFRs over the past decade. While there appear minimal health burdens from BFR exposure for UK adults, dust ingestion of BDE-209 may pose a significant risk for UK toddlers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulong Ma
- School
of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K.
| | - William A. Stubbings
- School
of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K.
| | - Jingxi Jin
- School
of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K.
| | - Reginald Cline-Cole
- Department
of African Studies & Anthropology, School of History and Cultures, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K.
| | | | - Stuart Harrad
- School
of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K.
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Rawn DFK, Corrigan C, Ménard C, Sun WF, Breton F, Arbuckle TE. Novel halogenated flame retardants in Canadian human milk from the MIREC study (2008-2011). CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 350:141065. [PMID: 38159732 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.141065] [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: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Novel halogenated flame retardants (NHFRs) have been developed to replace those brominated flame retardants that have been restricted due to their persistence, bioaccumulation potential and toxicity, therefore, it is important to determine whether these replacement products are present at detectable concentrations in Canadians. NHFRs were measured in human milk samples (n = 541) collected from across Canada between 2008 and 2011, which is the first pan-Canadian dataset for these chemicals in human milk. Among the 15 measured NHFRs and eight methoxy-polybrominated diphenyl ethers (MeO-PBDEs), nine NHFRs and two MeO-PBDEs (6-MeO-PBDE 47 and 2-MeO-PBDE 68) were detected at a frequency of more than 9%. Despite benzene, 1,1'-(1,2-ethanediyl)bis [2,3,4,5,6-pentabromo-]/decabromodiphenylethane [DBDPE] being detected less frequently than the other observed NHFRs, its relative contribution to the sum of nine NHFRs was important when it was present. The maximum ΣNHFR concentration in Canadian human milk was 6930 pg g-1 lipid while the maximum ΣMeO-PBDEs was 1600 pg g-1 lipid. While most NHFR concentrations were significantly correlated with each other, no relationships between maternal age, parity or pre-pregnancy BMI were identified with ΣNHFR concentrations in the milk. In contrast, maternal age was significantly correlated with ΣMeO-PBDE concentrations (r = 0.237, p < 0.001). ΣNHFR concentrations were similarly not related to maternal education, although ΣMeO-PBDE concentrations were found to be higher in milk from women who had graduated from trade schools relative to the other education levels considered. NHFR detection frequency and concentrations observed in the Canadian human milk seem to align well with Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothea F K Rawn
- Food Research Division, Bureau of Chemical Safety, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Sir Frederick Banting Research Centre, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Address Locator 2203C, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada.
| | - Catherine Corrigan
- Food Research Division, Bureau of Chemical Safety, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Sir Frederick Banting Research Centre, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Address Locator 2203C, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Cathie Ménard
- Food Research Division, Bureau of Chemical Safety, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Sir Frederick Banting Research Centre, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Address Locator 2203C, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Wing-Fung Sun
- Food Research Division, Bureau of Chemical Safety, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Sir Frederick Banting Research Centre, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Address Locator 2203C, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - François Breton
- Food Research Division, Bureau of Chemical Safety, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Sir Frederick Banting Research Centre, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Address Locator 2203C, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada; Generic Drugs Division, Bureau of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, 101 Tunney's Pasture Driveway, Address Locator 0201D, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Tye E Arbuckle
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Environmental and Radiation Health Sciences Directorate, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, 269 Laurier Ave, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada
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Ma Y, Konecna E, Cline-Cole R, Harrad S, Abdallah MAE. Are UK E-waste recycling facilities a source of environmental contamination and occupational exposure to brominated flame retardants? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 898:165403. [PMID: 37442475 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165403] [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: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Investigations into the impacts of regulated electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) recycling activities on urban environments in Europe remain rather scarce. In this study, dust samples taken both inside and outside of five UK e-waste recycling facilities were analysed for concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs), and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD). Average concentrations of ∑BFRs in dust inside and outside UK e-waste recycling facilities were 12,000 ng/g and 180 ng/g, with median concentrations of 7500 ng/g and 85 ng/g, respectively. BDE-209 and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) were the most abundant BFRs in both indoor and kerb dust, making a combined contribution to ∑BFRs of ~90 % on average. While four out of the five studied e-waste facilities showed a lack of significant impact on BFR contamination in surrounding environment, one of the studied e-waste recycling facilities was identified as a likely source of BFR contamination to UK urban environments, with industrial activities as another potential source of NBFRs. Occupational exposure of UK e-waste recycling workers to BFRs via dust ingestion was generally lower than that estimated for e-waste recyclers from other countries, but was comparable to BFR exposure via dust ingestion of UK office workers. Our estimates suggested that health burdens posed by dust ingestion of BFRs were minimal for UK e-waste recycling workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulong Ma
- School of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
| | - Ester Konecna
- School of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Reginald Cline-Cole
- Department of African Studies & Anthropology, School of History and Cultures, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Stuart Harrad
- School of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
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Pietron WJ, Malagocki P, Warenik-Bany M. Feed as a source of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 231:116257. [PMID: 37245570 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116257] [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: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
One of the most important routes for human exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) is the ingestion of contaminated food. Food of animal origin safety is strongly related to feed quality. The aim of the study was the assessment of feeds and feed materials quality associated with ten PBDE congeners (BDE-28, 47, 49, 99, 100, 138, 153, 154, 183 and 209) contamination. The quality of 207 feed samples divided into eight categories (277/2012/EU) was checked using the gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS). At least one congener was identified in 73% of the samples. All investigated fish oil, animal fat, and feed for fish were contaminated, and 80% of plant-origin feed samples were free of PBDEs. The highest median content of ∑10PBDE was found in fish oils (2260 ng kg-1) followed by fishmeal (530 ng kg-1). The lowest median was found in mineral feed additives, plant materials excluding vegetable oil and compound feed. BDE-209 was the most frequently detected congener (56%). All congeners except BDE-138 and BDE-183 were detected in 100% of the fish oil samples. Except for BDE-209, the congener detection frequencies did not exceed 20% in compound feed, feed of plant origin, and vegetable oils. Excluding BDE-209, similar congener profiles were found for fish oils, fishmeal and feed for fish, with BDE-47 in the highest concentration, followed by BDE-49 and BDE-100. Another pattern appeared in animal fat, with a higher median concentration of BDE-99 than BDE-47. Time-trend analysis of PBDE concentrations in fishmeal (n = 75) showed a 63% decrease in ∑10PBDE (p = 0.077) and a 50% decrease in the ∑9PBDE (p = 0.008) between 2017 and 2021. It proves the international legislation implemented to reduce PBDE environmental levels has been effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wojciech Jerzy Pietron
- Radiobiology Department, National Veterinary Research Institute, Pulawy, 24-100, Poland.
| | - Pawel Malagocki
- Radiobiology Department, National Veterinary Research Institute, Pulawy, 24-100, Poland
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Ma Y, Romanak KA, Capozzi SL, Xia C, Lehman DC, Harrad S, Cline-Cole R, Venier M. Socio-Economic Factors Impact US Dietary Exposure to Halogenated Flame Retardants. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS 2023; 10:478-484. [PMID: 37333937 PMCID: PMC10269323 DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.3c00224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Although diet is an important route of exposure for brominated flame retardants (BFRs), little is known of their presence in US food. Therefore, we purchased meat, fish, and dairy product samples (n = 72) in Bloomington, IN, from 3 stores representing national retail chains at different price levels. Composite samples (n = 42) were analyzed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD), novel BFRs (NBFRs), and dechlorane plus (DP). Concentrations of total halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) ranged between 54 and 1,400 pg/g ww, with PBDEs being the predominant compounds. Concentrations of NBFRs, but not PBDEs, in US food items were significantly impacted by price, raising the issue of environmental justice. Nonorganic food generally had a higher abundance of BDE-209 than organic food items. Estimates of dietary exposure revealed that meat and cheese consumption contribute most to the overall HFR intake and that intakes are highest for children and for non-Hispanic Asians. Taking into account several caveats and limitations of this study, these results as a whole suggest that health burdens from dietary exposure to HFRs have become minimal for US citizens, highlighting the positive impact of regulatory efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulong Ma
- School of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K
- O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA
| | - Kevin Andrew Romanak
- O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA
| | - Staci Lynn Capozzi
- O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA
| | - Chunjie Xia
- O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA
| | - Daniel Crawford Lehman
- O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA
| | - Stuart Harrad
- School of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K
| | - Reginald Cline-Cole
- Department of African Studies & Anthropology, School of History and Cultures, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K
| | - Marta Venier
- O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA
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