Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and alternative brominated flame retardants in air and seawater of the European Arctic.

Neonatal Developmental Neurotoxicity of Brominated Flame Retardants, the Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs)

Analytical Aspects for Determination of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Environmental Samples

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are brominated flame retardants (BFRs) which have routinely been added to consumer products for several decades in a successful effort to reduce fire-related injury and property damage. Recently, concern for this emerging class of chemicals has risen because of their occurrence and observed increasing temporal trends in the environment and in human biota. ...

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) over the open Indian Ocean

Atmospheric concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a group of industrial chemicals widely used as flame retardants were measured over the Indian Ocean and represent the first comprehensive data of atmospheric contaminations of PBDEs over the open ocean. Air back trajectory analysis shows that PBDEs have great potential for long-range atmospheric transport to remote regions of...

Levels and trends of brominated flame retardants in the Arctic.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) containing two to seven bromines are ubiquitous in Arctic biotic and abiotic samples (from zooplankton to polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and humans; air, soil, sediments). The fully brominated decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) are also present in biotic and abi...

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in human serum and sperm quality.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widely used flame retardants; currently, they are identified as ubiquitous environmental contaminants. Several studies indicate that PBDEs might affect male fertility. We present the results of a pilot study on the relationship between human serum PBDEs and sperm quality. The PBDE levels in Japan are comparable to those found in European countries. Str...