Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are a diverse group of chemicals, which are used to slow down or inhibit the development of fires. BFRs are incorporated into a wide range of consumer products that are considered as potential fire hazards, such as TV-sets, household appliances, computers, and textiles. The production and use of BFRs is extensive and consists of mainly tetrabromobisphenol A (T...

BACKGROUND Human exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants has increased exponentially over the last three decades. Animal and human studies suggest that PBDEs may disrupt thyroid function. Although thyroid hormone (TH) of maternal origin plays an essential role in normal fetal brain development, there is a paucity of human data regarding associations between exposure to...

BACKGROUND Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widely found in the environment and are suspected endocrine disruptors. We previously identified six hydroxylated metabolites of PBDE (OH-PBDEs) in treated mice. OBJECTIVE We tested the hypothesis that OH-PBDEs would interact with and alter activity of estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-alpha). METHODS We tested estrogenicity using two assays: ...

With the phaseout of the manufacture of some polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) formulations, namely penta-brominated diphenyl ether (BDE) and octa-BDE, and the continued use of the deca-BDE formulation, it is important to be able to predict the photodegradation of the more highly brominated congeners. A model was developed and validated to predict the products and their relative concentratio...

BACKGROUND Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may be involved in the etiology of autism spectrum disorders, but identifying relevant chemicals within mixtures of EDCs is difficult. OBJECTIVE Our goal was to identify gestational EDC exposures associated with autistic behaviors. METHODS We measured the concentrations of 8 phthalate metabolites, bisphenol A, 25 polychlorinated biphenyls (PC...

OBJECTIVE California children's exposures to polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants (PBDEs) are among the highest measured worldwide. We previously reported associations for prenatal and childhood PBDE exposures with decrements in attention, processing speed, fine motor coordination, and cognition in children at ages 5 and 7 years. Here, we investigate associations of PBDEs with attenti...

Here we propose an explanation for this phenomenon. Toxicants are not distributed homogeneously in dust according to particle size; particle size distribution of settled dust varies with its spatial position. Thus, distribution of poly brominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) will vary with the particle size of dust and the spatial position of settled dust, as well as the location of PBDE sources, su...

Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants are added at percent levels to many polymers and textiles abundant in human spaces and vehicles, wherein they have been long assumed to be tightly sequestered. However, the mgkg(-1) burdens recently detected in indoor dust testify to substantial releases. The bulk of released PBDEs remain in the terrestrial environment, yet comparatively lit...