Is PBDE a carcinogen?
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified PBDE as a Group 3 carcinogen (not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans) based on inadequate evidence of carcinogenicity in humans and inadequate or limited evidence in experimental animals.
What does PBDE mean?
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) belong to a class of chemicals that are added to certain manufactured products in order to reduce the chances that the products will catch on fire.
What type of toxin is PBDE?
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a class of recalcitrant and bioaccumulative halogenated compounds that have emerged as a major environmental pollutant.
When was PBDE banned?
Experts expect the decline in PBDEs to mirror that of other persistent compounds, called PCBs, banned in 1978 – a rapid drop followed by a leveling-off period in which they persist in people at low levels.
Is PBDE harmful?
❖ Studies in rats and mice show that PBDEs cause neurotoxicity, developmental neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, thyroid toxicity, immunotoxicity, liver toxicity, pancreas effects (diabetes) and cancer (penta and decabromodiphenyl ether).
Is PBDE still used?
Flame retardant manufacturers in the U.S. voluntarily stopped producing the PentaBDE (used in furniture foam) and OctaBDE (used in electronic products) varieties of PBDEs in 2004 and have begun producing alternative flame retardants; however, DecaBDE continues to be produced and used in the U.S., primarily in …
Is PBDE banned in Canada?
PBDEs have been widely used since the 1970s; however, due to their persistence in the environment, the manufacturing of PBDEs has been banned and the import, use and sale of PBDEs found in commercial mixtures of greatest concern (penta- and octaBDE) have been restricted in Canada since 2008 and in the US since the end …
What does PBDE do to humans?
Tetra-, Penta-, and Hexa-BDEs are the isomers most commonly found in humans. Based on studies on experimental animals, the toxicological endpoints of exposure to PBDEs are likely to be thyroid homeostasis disruption, neurodevelopmental deficits, reproductive changes, and even cancer.
Is PBDE banned in Australia?
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) were used intensively as flame retardants, worldwide. Commercial Penta- and Octa-PBDE mixtures were banned in Australia in 2005, while HBCDD was banned worldwide in 2013.
Why is PBDE bad?
PBDEs are in blood, breastmilk, and umbilical cord blood. Children with higher prenatal exposure to PBDEs have been found in several studies to have lower IQ. Exposure has also been linked to hyperactivity, poor attention, and slower motor development. PBDEs affect thyroid hormone levels in laboratory animals.
Are PBDEs banned in the US?
Brominated flame retardant chemicals, banned in the U.S. since 2004, still pollute the bodies of newborn American babies, according to a new study from Indiana University scientists. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, were once widely used in products including furniture foam and electronics.
How are people exposed to PBDEs?
People can be exposed to PBDEs and PBBs by eating contaminated foods, especially those with a high fat content, such as fatty fish. Another source of exposure results from breathing contaminated air or swallowing contaminated dust.
How can I reduce my exposure to PBDEs?
Cleaning – PBDEs in indoor dust is one of the primary sources of people’s exposure. Reduce your exposure to indoor dust. Use a damp cloth to dust indoor living and working areas. Avoid stirring the dust into the air. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter. Open windows and doors while you clean. Wash hands after dusting and cleaning.
What are PBDEs and what are they used for?
What are PBDEs? Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) are flame retardant chemicals added to products so they won’t catch fire or burn so easily if they are exposed to flame or high heat.
Why is the EPA so concerned about PBDEs?
PBDEs are used as flame retardants in a number of applications, including textiles, plastics, wire insulation, and automobiles. Why is EPA concerned about these chemicals? EPA is concerned that certain PBDE congeners are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic to both humans and the environment.
Who is most likely to be exposed to PBDEs?
You may be exposed to PBDEs through household dust, consumer products, and from residues in food. People who work in enclosed spaces where PBDE-containing products are manufactured, repaired, or recycled may also have a higher level of exposure. PBDE levels reported in children are usually higher than the levels detected in adults.