Flame retardant exposure: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in blood from Swedish workers

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are used as additives in polymers an d textiles to prohibit the development of fires. Because of the production and use of PBDEs, their lipophilic characteristics, and persistence, these compounds have become ubiquitous environmental contaminants. The aim of the present study was to determine potential exposures of PBDEs to clerks work ing full-time at computer screens and personnel at an electronics-dismantli ng plant, with hospital cleaners as a control group. Five PBDE congeners-2, 2',4,4' -tetraBDE; 2,2',4,4',5,5' -hexaBDE; 2,2',4,4',5,6'-hexaBDE; 2,2',3, 4,4',5',6-heptaBDE; and decaBDE-were quantified in blood serum from all thr ee categories of workers. Subjects working at the dismantling plant showed significantly higher levels of all PBDE congeners in their serum as compare d to the control group. Decabromodiphenyl ether is present in concentration s of 5 pmol/g lipid weight (Iv) in the personnel dismantling electronics; t hese concentrations are comparable to the concentrations of 2,2',4,4'-tetra BDE. The latter compound was the dominating PBDE congener in the clerks and cleaners. The major compound in personnel at the dismantling plant was 2,2 ',3,4,4',5',6-heptaBDE, Concentrations of this PBDE congener are almost twi ce as high as for 2,2',4,4'-teuaBDE in these workers and seventy times the level of this heptaBDE in cleaners. The total median PBDE concentrations in the serum from workers at the electronics-dismantling plant, clerks, and c leaners were 37, 7.3, and 5.4 pmol/g 1w, respectively. The results show tha t decabromodiphenyl ether is bioavailable and that occupational exposure to PBDEs occurs at the electronics-dismantling plant.