Post on 29-Dec-2015
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
An Introduction to the Health Effects of PBDEs
A Small Dose of ™ PBDEs
Steven G. Gilbert, PhD, DABTwww.asmalldoseof.org
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Infant & Child Health
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
“Children can develop and mature in an
environment that allows them to reach and maintain their full
potential.”
Vision for Child Health
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
• Recognition of Sensitivity of Children
• Knowledge of toxicology
• Policy Approach within an ethical framework• Social responsibilities• No technical solutions• Restriction of freedoms• Precautionary Principle
Convergence of Issues
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
American Academy of Pediatrics
Mission and vision
To attain optimal physical, mental and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents and young adults.
http://www.aap.org/member/memcore.htm
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
American Academy of Pediatrics
The AAP goes on to state: “To this purpose, the AAP and its members dedicate their efforts and resources.
The vision: 1) to advocate for infants, children, adolescents, and young adults and provide for their care; 2) to collaborate with others to assure child health; and ….
http://www.aap.org/member/memcore.htm
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Fetal Effects of MeHg
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Lead In Homes
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Lead in Families
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of ToxicologyFAS Child
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Purpose of PBDEs
Fire kills more than 3,000/year Injures more than 20,000 $11 billion in damage Flame retardants Used in many consumer products
PolyBrominated Diphenyl Ether
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Structure of PBDEs
X & Y are number of Bromine atomse.g. decaPBDE has 10 Bromines
PolyBrominated Diphenyl Ether
O
BrxBry
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
How much PBDEs are used?
PBDEs Americas Europe Asia
Deca- 53.9 16.7 50.6
Octa- 3.3 1.3 3.3
Penta- 15.6 0.33 0.33
Total – 72.8 18.4 54.2
Millions of lbs used/year (2001)
Total world-wide 148.3 M lbs/yr Data from BSEF (2001)
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
PBDEs in Consumer Products
Plastics - Deca, Octa, Penta
Computers, televisions, hair dryers, curling irons, copy machines, fax machines, printers, coffee makers, plastic automotive parts, lighting panels, PVC wire and cables, electrical connectors, fuses, housings, boxes and switches, lamp sockets, waste-water pipes, underground junction boxes, circuit boards, smoke detectors
Textiles - Deca, Penta
Back coatings and impregnation of home and office furniture, industrial drapes, carpets, automotive seating, aircraft and train seating
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
PBDEs in Consumer Products
Polyurethane foam - Penta
Home and office furniture (couches and chairs, carpet padding, mattresses and mattress pads) automobile, bus, plane and train seating, sound insulation panels, imitation wood, packaging materials
Rubber - Deca, Penta
Conveyor belts, foamed pipes for insulation, rubber cables
Paints and lacquers - Deca, Penta
Marine and industry protective lacquers and paints
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Sunlight / UV light breaks down PBDEs (encourages debromination)
Slower to break down in doors – increased in door exposure to deca
Debrominates to more toxic PBDEs
Degradation of PBDEs
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Atmospheric transport – found in artic sediment, mussels and animals
Remote Canadian lakesIsland in BalticIndoor dust
Transport of PBDEs
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
PBDEs in House Dust (ppb)
From EWG - Toxic Fire Retardants Contaminate American Homes - http://www.ewg.org/reports/inthedust/summary.php
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Found in animalsIncrease in fishIncrease in whalesSewage sludgePCBs Found in Lake Washington
Fish (PBDEs next?)
Found in human (breast milk)
Bioavailability of PBDEs
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
PBDEs Breast Milk - Sweden
(Norén and Mieronyté, 1998)
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
PBDEs in Breast Milk (ppb)
From EWG - Toxic Fire Retardants in Breast Milk from American Mothers - http://www.ewg.org/reports/mothersmilk/es.php
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Flame Retardants In Puget Sound Residents - A study of toxic body burdens
Joint study by Northwest Environmental Watch and Washington Toxics Coalition
What was found in women’s breast milk9 samples – range 13 to 156 ppb PBDEsMedian 50 ppb (parts per billion)Japan blood median 1.3 ppbSwedish breast milk median 2.1 ppb
WA State PBDEs Burdens
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
PBDEs In Milk Fat
PBDE in milk fat - Puget Sound mothers
13 13 1326
50 56
117126
156
0
25
50
75
100
125
150
175
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Sample Number
pp
b in
Milk
Fat
(adapted from Northwest Environmental Watch, 2004)
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Texas 2002 – Breast milk from 47 mothers – median 34 ppb
Across U.S. - 20 breast milk samples – median 58 ppb
Additional Reports - PBDEs
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Additional Reports - PBDEs
Comparison of World Wide PBDE levels in lipid
1.3 2.1
25
34
5850
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Japan(2000)
Sweden(2001)
Canada(2001-02)
Texas(2002)
UnitedStates
(2002-03)
PugetSound(2003)
Me
da
in P
BD
E le
ve
l in
Lip
id (
pp
b)
(adapted from Northwest Environmental Watch, 2004)
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Importance of Breast Feeding
Absolutely the best infant foodDespite the chemical found in breast
milk, the benefits outweigh any riskReduces incidence of a number of
diseases and infectionsFormula milk may also have
contaminantsBreast feeding good for mothers too
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Similar to PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls)
PBT (Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxicant)
No human dataAnimals studies indicate
Effects thyroid hormone levelsNeurobehavioral toxicity
Effects development - alters BehaviorImpairs memory and learning
Delays sexual development
Health Effects of PBDEs
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Health effects – deca-PBDE?Animals studies – neurobehavioral,
endocrine effects? Human studies?
Metabolism – is deca-PBDE metabolized to more toxic metabolites? How fast? Persistent in body?
Break down – does deca-PBDE break down in the environment to penta or octa? Impact of UV light?
Do we need to know more?
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
PBDEs migrate out of productsFound in the environment and animalsFound homes and mother’s breast milkPCBs and PBDEs very similarPBDEs have health effects at low dosesDeca-PBDE has effects (may be from
metabolites)Deca-does break down and is metabolized
Therefore we need to adapt a precautionary approach
What do we know?
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Europe Banned - Penta and octa-PBDE Deca-PBDE used in electronics
(greatest use of deca) Deca will be banned by 2006
PBDEs – International Status
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
U.S. EPA and a U.S. chemical manufacturer, agreed to phase out Penta and Octa-PBDE by end of 2004
Deca-PBDE in consumer electronics (80% of the chemical's commercial use) – no agreement
PBDEs – National Status
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Legislation to ban - Penta and Octa-PBDE
Did not ban Deca-PBDEMust report amount of electronic
waste and toxic chemicals in waste such as PBDEs, metals
PBDEs – California Status
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Jan 2004 - Governor Locke issued an Executive Order directing the Department of
Ecology to develop a phase out plan March 2004 - March 2004, the Washington
State Legislature funded the development of a PBDE phase out plan
Advisory panel formed
PBDEs & WA State
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Dept. of Ecology Draft Report A complete ban on Penta and
Octa-PBDE A ban on Deca-PBDE in consumer
electronics (80% of the chemical's commercial use).
Public hearing October 19th
PBDEs & WA State - Status
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/pbt/pbde/index.html
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Buy products with natural fibers (cotton and wool) that are naturally fire resistant.
Choice materials that do not have or need flame-retardants (IKEA uses no PBDEs)
Manufactures are redesigning products
Research for new flame-retardants
Alternatives
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
“The Commons”
The Tragedy of the CommonsBy Garrett Hardin, Science, 1968
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Technical Solutions
“It is our considered professional judgment that
this dilemma has no technical solution.”
The Tragedy of the CommonsBy Garrett Hardin, Science, 1968
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Problems – Solutions?
Lead and kids Fetal alcohol syndrome Nuclear disarmament Bioterrorism Ocean Fisheries Persistent chemicals PBDEs in breast milk The Commons
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
“When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment,
precautionary measures should be take even if some cause and effect relationships are not
fully established scientifically.”
Wingspread Conference, 1998.
Precautionary Principle
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
FDA regulations of Drugs (1938) FDA regulations of Dietary
Supplements (Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA))
Ephedra present an unreasonable risk of illness or injury (Dec, 2003)
Safety & Efficacy vs Harm
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
• Taking preventive action in the face of uncertainty
• Shifting the burden of responsibility to the proponents of an activity
• Exploring a wide range of alternatives to possibly harmful actions
• Increasing public participation in decision making
Wingspread Conference, 1998.
Central components
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
• Changes in purchase policy to less toxic cleaners & paints
• Integrated pest management
• Banning chemicals in consumer products
• Approach to decision making
Examples of Precautionary Approach
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
• Children have a right to a safe, fair, and healthy environment
• Ethical Responsibility to share and use of knowledge
• Duty to promote health and well being of children
• Thoughtful public health advocate
Advocate for Public Health
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
• Testifying
• Writing review papers
• K-12 class room teaching
• Adding expertise to community groups
• Education
• Mentoring
• Speakers Bureau
Socially Responsible Actions
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
The Potential of Children
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
A Small Dose of ™ PBDEs
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Additional Information
Flame Retardants In Puget Sound Residents - A study of toxic body burdens (http://www.northwestwatch.org/pollution/)
Washington Toxics Coalition (www.watoxics.org)
Washington State – Department of Ecology – (http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/pbt/pbde/index.html)
Birnbaum, L. S., & Staskal, D. F. (2004). Brominated flame retardants: cause for concern? Environ Health Perspect, 112(1), 9-17. (available on line at www.ehponline.org)
Hooper, K., & McDonald, T. A. (2000). The PBDEs: an emerging environmental challenge and another reason for breast-milk monitoring programs. Environ Health Perspect, 108(5), 387-392. (available on line at www.ehponline.org)
A Small Dose of PBDEs 9/26/04 A Small Dose of Toxicology
Contact Information
For Additional Information ContactSteven G. Gilbert, PhD, DABT
E-mail: smdose@asmalldoseof.orgWeb: www.asmalldoseof.org
This presentation is supplement to “A Small Dose of Toxicology”