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Decabromobiphenyl, Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers, and Brominated Phenolic Compounds in Serum of Cats Diagnosed With the Endocrine Disease Feline Hyperthyroidism

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Abstract

The incidence of cats being diagnosed with feline hyperthyroidism (FH) has increased greatly since it was first described in 1979. The cause of FH has not been established. Hypothetically, there is a link between increasing FH and exposure to brominated flame retardants. Much greater polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) concentrations have been reported in cat serum compared with human serum, likely due to cat licking behaviour. This study aimed to extend the present identification of brominated compounds in cat serum, with a focus on hydroxylated metabolites of PBDE, to improve the understanding of feline metabolism of PBDEs. A pooled serum sample from 30 Swedish pet cats with FH was analysed, and brominated species were identified. The results showed exposure to the discontinued flame retardant decabromobiphenyl (BB-209) and technical penta- and octa-BDEs. Altogether 12 PBDE congeners were identified along with 2′-MeO-BDE68. Furthermore, 2,4-dibromophenol, 2,4,6-, 2,4,5- and 2,3,4-tribromophenol plus 2′-OH-BDE68, 6-OH-BDE47, 5-OH-BDE47, 4′-OH-BDE49 were identified. 2,4,6-tribromophenol and 6-OH-BDE47 were the most prominent species in cat serum. Considering that these are natural products, it can be concluded that metabolism of PBDEs to OH-PBDEs is not a major route of PBDE elimination in cats. It is notable that BB-209, 6-OH-BDE47, and 2,4,6-tribromophenol all suggested that endocrine-disrupting chemicals were present in high concentrations in cat serum.

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Acknowledgment

The authors thank I. Athanassiadis for scientific guidance and skilful help with GC-MS analysis. The study was funded by the Science faculty at Stockholm University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Chemistry Unit, Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden

    Jessica Norrgran & Åke Bergman

  2. Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden

    Bernt Jones

  3. Swedish Chemicals Agency, 172 13, Sundbyberg, Sweden

    Nils-Gunnar Lindquist

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  1. Jessica Norrgran
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  2. Bernt Jones
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  3. Nils-Gunnar Lindquist
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  4. Åke Bergman
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Correspondence to Jessica Norrgran.

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Norrgran, J., Jones, B., Lindquist, NG. et al. Decabromobiphenyl, Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers, and Brominated Phenolic Compounds in Serum of Cats Diagnosed With the Endocrine Disease Feline Hyperthyroidism. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 63, 161–168 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-012-9750-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-012-9750-y

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