Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) have been measured in surplus serum collected in 2009 from a convenience sample of 300 Texas children (boys and girls) in the birth to 13 years of age range. Serum concentrations of traditional persistent organic pollutants such as 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB-...

Introduction. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are undoubtedly the most important group of organohalogenated compounds that captures the attention of environmental scientists in recent years. PBDEs are widely used flame retardant additives in polymers and textiles and are present in nearly all of our daily appliances. There are growing evidences that these brominated flame retardants are ...

During recent years, a marked increase in the levels of brominated flame retardants (BFRs), especially polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), in human tissues all over the world have been observed (Scheter et al., 2000; Tomsen et al., 2002). It is mainly due to the following facts: their production and use have undergone a dramatic increase starting in the 1980s (Sjödin et al., 2004) and their...

Residues of flame retardants in breast milk from Germany with specific regard to polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDE) This study presents the observations on PBDE-levels in breast milk as well as possible influencing factors. The study-design enabled the specific analysis of the impacts of eating habits and the duration of breast-feeding. Further possible factors were pinpointed and examined us...

This study was conducted to determine the concentration of 8 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in sandstorm depositions in Beijing, China. The PBDE concentrations in 10 samples collected in Beijing ranged from 8.47 to 29.02 ng g(-1), with BDE-209 as the predominant congener (>85%). Principal component analysis revealed that the major source of PBDEs in Beijing may be potentially associated...

BACKGROUND Animal and in vitro studies demonstrated a neurotoxic potential of brominated flame retardants, a group of chemicals used in many household and commercial products to prevent fire. Although the first reports of detrimental neurobehavioral effects in rodents appeared more than ten years ago, human data are sparse. METHODS As a part of a biomonitoring program for environmental health...

Organic pollutants have been monitored in the atmosphere of the Great Lake Basin (GLB) since the 1990s in support of the Canada-US Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and to determine the effectiveness of source reduction measures and factors influencing air concentrations. Air samples were collected between 2005 and 2014 at three sites with different geographical characteristics (Burnt Island,...

results: Maternal prenatal PBDE concentrations were associated with impaired attention as mea­ sured by a continuous performance task at 5 years and maternal report at 5 and 7 years of age, with poorer fine motor coordination—particularly in the nondominant—at both age points, and with decrements in Verbal and Full­Scale IQ at 7 years. PBDE concentrations in children 7 years of age were signifi...