Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in Foodstuffs:  Human Exposure through the Diet

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are used as flame retardants in a variety of materials, including synthetic polymers and textiles. Although these chemicals have been detected in environmental samples and human tissues, there is little information about human exposure to PBDEs through the diet...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 2003-05, Vol.51 (10), p.3191-3195
Main Authors: Bocio, A, Llobet, J. M, Domingo, J. L, Corbella, J, Teixidó, A, Casas, C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
adults
Air. Soil. Water. Waste. Feeding
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
detection limit
Diet
Dietary Fats - analysis
Dietary Fats, Unsaturated - analysis
eggs
Eggs - analysis
Environment. Living conditions
Environmental Exposure
Ethers - analysis
fabrics
fish
Fishes
flame retardants
Food Analysis
Food industries
Food toxicology
Fruit - chemistry
fruits
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
lipids
Male
meat
Meat - analysis
Meat Products - analysis
Medical sciences
no observed adverse effect level
oils
Polybrominated Biphenyls - analysis
polybrominated diphenyl ethers
polymers
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
safety factor
shellfish
Shellfish - analysis
Spain
tubers
vegetables
Vegetables - chemistry
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Summary:Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are used as flame retardants in a variety of materials, including synthetic polymers and textiles. Although these chemicals have been detected in environmental samples and human tissues, there is little information about human exposure to PBDEs through the diet. In the present study, we determined the concentrations of PBDEs in a number of food samples acquired in Catalonia (Spain) during 2000. The dietary intake of PBDEs was estimated for the general population living in this Spanish region. The highest PBDE concentrations were found in oils and fats, fish and shellfish, meat and meat products, and eggs, while the lowest levels corresponded to fruits, vegetables, and tubers. The dietary intake of PBDEs for an adult male was 97.3 ng/day (assuming not detected (ND) = 1/2 limit of detection (LOD)) or 81.9 ng/day (assuming ND = 0) The greatest contribution to these values corresponded to fish and shellfish, with approximately one-third of the total intake. TetraBDEs and pentaBDEs were the homologues showing the highest percentages of contribution to the sum of total PBDEs. The comparison of the current dietary intake with the suggested lowest observed adverse effect level value of 1 mg/kg/day for the most sensitive endpoints for toxic effects of PBDEs results in a safety factor over 5 orders of magnitude in relation to PBDE exposure from food. Keywords: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs); levels in food; dietary intake; general population; Catalonia, Spain
ISSN:0021-8561
1520-5118
DOI:10.1021/jf0340916