- Full (HTML) - Related EHP Articles - PubMed:Related Articles - PubMed:Citation - Cited in PMC - Purchase This Issue

Andreas Sjödin,¹ Lars Hagmar,² Eva Klasson-Wehler,^1,* Kerstin Kronholm-Diab,² Eva Jakobsson,¹ and Åke Bergman¹

¹Department of Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden; ²Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden

Abstract

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are used as additives in polymers and 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 working full-time at computer screens and personnel at an electronics-dismantling 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 three categories of workers. Subjects working at the dismantling plant showed significantly higher levels of all PBDE congeners in their serum as compared to the control group. Decabromodiphenyl ether is present in concentrations of 5 pmol/g lipid weight (lw) in the personnel dismantling electronics ; these concentrations are comparable to the concentrations of 2,2´,4,4´-tetraBDE. 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 twice as high as for 2,2´,4,4´-tetraBDE 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 cleaners were 37, 7.3, and 5.4 pmol/g lw, respectively. The results show that decabromodiphenyl ether is bioavailable and that occupational exposure to PBDEs occurs at the electronics-dismantling plant. Key words: analysis, blood, contamination, DBDE, decabromodiphenyl ether, electronics recycling, flame retardants, levels, occupational exposure, PBDE, persistent organic pollutants, polybrominated diphenyl ethers. Environ Health Perspect 107:643-648 (1999) . [Online 29 June 1999]

http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/1999/107p643-648sjodin/ abstract.html

Address correspondence to A. Sjödin, Department of Environmental Chemistry, Wallenberg Laboratory, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden. Telephone: 46 8 16 21 46. Fax: 46 8 15 25 61. E-mail: andreas.sjodin@mk.su.se

*Current address: Astra Pain Control, SE-151 85 Södertälje, Sweden.

Invaluable assistance was provided by S. Sjölin at the electronics-dismantling plant (Stena-Technoworld AB) . We are grateful to G. Marsh, H. Jiwei, and U. Örn for the synthesis of PBDE standards, to I. Athanasiadis for the mass spectrometry analyses, and to C. Andersson, I. Bensryd, and C. Nordander for recruitment of study subjects and blood sampling.

Financial support was provided by the Swedish Work Life Council and the Cancer and Allergy Foundation.

Received 10 December 1998 ; accepted 8 April 1999.