Polybrominated diphenyl ethers: Causes for concern and knowledge gaps regarding environmental distribution, fate and toxicity

This manuscript critically considers several areas of study of the polybrominated diphenyl ether compounds. Specifically, a brief review of PBDE toxicity is followed by an in depth discussion of PBDE occurrence in abiotic and biotic environmental matrices. Temporal and geographic trends are examined...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Science of the total environment 2008-08, Vol.400 (1), p.425-436
Main Authors: Vonderheide, Anne P., Mueller, Kevin E., Meija, Juris, Welsh, Gwendolyn L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air. Soil. Water. Waste. Feeding
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Applied ecology
Applied sciences
bioavailability
Biological and medical sciences
Biological Availability
Biological occurrence
Brominated flame retardants
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Ecosystem
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
endocrine-disrupting chemicals
Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics
Environment. Living conditions
Environmental Exposure
environmental impact
Environmental occurrence
Environmental Pollutants - analysis
Environmental Pollutants - chemistry
Environmental Pollutants - toxicity
Exact sciences and technology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
Geography
Global environmental pollution
Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers - analysis
Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers - chemistry
Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers - toxicity
human health
Humans
literature reviews
Medical sciences
PBDEs
Pollution
Pollution, environment geology
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Risk Assessment
toxicity
Toxicology
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Description
Summary:This manuscript critically considers several areas of study of the polybrominated diphenyl ether compounds. Specifically, a brief review of PBDE toxicity is followed by an in depth discussion of PBDE occurrence in abiotic and biotic environmental matrices. Temporal and geographic trends are examined in conjunction with risk assessment factors. Rather than summarize or tabulate the growing body of literature on PBDEs in the environment, the overall goal of this review paper is to highlight broad patterns that may contribute to a more holistic understanding of PBDE behavior in the environment, as well as to identify critical areas of research that warrant further attention.
ISSN:0048-9697
1879-1026
DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.05.003