Organobromine compound profiling in human adipose: Assessment of sources of bromophenol

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2015-09, Vol.204, p.81-89
• Main Authors: Gao, Shixiong, Wan, Yi, Zheng, Guomao, Luo, Kai, Kannan, Kurunthachalam, Giesy, John P., Lam, Michael H.W., Hu, Jianying
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ABS resins; Adipose tissue; Adipose Tissue - chemistry; Adipose Tissue - metabolism; Adult; Anthropogenic compounds; Assessments; BRPs; Co-exposure; Correlation; Environmental Monitoring; Ethers; Female; GC–NCI–MS; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers - analysis; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers - metabolism; Human; Humans; Male; Microsomes, Liver - chemistry; Microsomes, Liver - metabolism; Middle Aged; New York City; Organobromine compounds; Origins; Pollution abatement; Polybrominated Biphenyls - analysis; Polybrominated Biphenyls - metabolism; Profiling; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2015.04.015

Bromophenols (BRPs) have been widely detected in human tissues, however, relative proportions from natural products and/or anthropogenic flame retardants are not clear. 21 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), 15 MeO/OH-PBDEs, and 10 BRPs were simultaneously quantified in adipose collected from people from New York City, USA. An in vitro assay utilizing human liver microsomes was performed for detected predominant organobromine. High concentrations of 2,4,6-triBRP and PBDEs were observed, and extremely low concentrations of naturally occurring MeO/OH-PBDEs were detected. Similar biotransformatioin rates of BRPs and MeO/OH-PBDEs indicated that the relative high concentration of 2,4,6-triBRP in humans was not of natural origin. Significant correlation observed between concentrations of 2,4,6-triBRP and BDE-209 suggested that the two chemicals may share a common source. Both 2,4,6-triBRP and BDE-209 were detected in commercial ABS resins, suggesting that plastic products made from ABS resins could be potential sources of co-exposure of the two compounds for humans. [Display omitted] •2,4,6-triBRP detected with high concentrations in human was not of natural origin.•Co-exposure of 2,4,6-triBRP and BDE-209 was observed in human samples.•Products made from ABS resins were potential exposure sources of 2,4,6-triBRP. The profile of organobromine compounds in human together with biotransformation behaviors indicate that anthropogenic sources mainly contribute to high levels of bromophenols in humans.