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Distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in breast milk, cord blood and placentas: a systematic review

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Abstract

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been extensively used as flame retardants in consumer products. PBDEs rapidly bioaccumulate in the environment, food, wild animals and humans. In this review, we investigated the harmful effects of PBDEs on humans, especially in early life, and summarised the levels of PBDEs in human biological samples (breast milk, cord blood and placentas). In addition, we described the spatiotemporal distribution of PBDEs in this review. PBDE levels in breast milk, cord blood and placentas were generally higher in North America than in other regions, such as Asia, Europe, Oceania and Africa. However, high levels of PBDEs in human biological samples were detected at e-waste recycling sites in South China, East China and South Korea. This finding suggests that newborns living in e-waste regions are exposed to high levels of PBDEs during prenatal and postnatal periods. The time trends of PBDE concentration differed according to the region. Few studies have investigated PBDE levels in humans from 1967 to 2000, but they increased rapidly after 2000. PBDE concentration peaked at approximately 2006 globally. Compared with other PBDE congeners, BDE-47, BDE-153 and BDE-209 were the major components, but the detection rate of BDE-209 was lower than those of others. Future studies should focus on determining the BDE-209 concentration, which requires the implementation of different analytical approaches. Additionally, the levels of PBDEs in human samples and the environment should be monitored, especially in e-waste recycling regions.

The figures described the spatial distribution of the lowest (Fig. a1) and highest concentration of ∑PBDE (Fig. a2) in different countries by 2006 and described the spatial distribution of the lowest (Fig. b1) and highest concentration of ∑PBDE (Fig. b2) in different countries from 2007 to 2015. All the figures indicated that the levels of PBDEs in North America were substantially higher than those in many regions of Europe, Asia, Oceania, or Africa. Comparing Fig. a1–b1 or Fig. a2–b2, increasing trends were observed in some countries, especially in some regions in China, Korea and Canada.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Nature Science Research Project of Anhui Province (NO. 1408085MH192) and the Dr. Research Funds of Anhui Medical University (NO. 201201). The funders had a role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China

    Jing Tang & Jin Xia Zhai

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  1. Jing Tang
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  2. Jin Xia Zhai
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Correspondence to Jin Xia Zhai.

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Responsible editor: Hongwen Sun

Highlights

• Higher levels of PBDEs in human biological samples were detected from the e-waste recycling sites in South China, East China and South Korea.

• The time trend of PBDE concentrations was fluctuant with regions.

• BDE-47, BDE-153 and BDE-209 accounted for major proportions.

• Elder mothers proved to be more sensitive to PBDEs.

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Tang, J., Zhai, J.X. Distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in breast milk, cord blood and placentas: a systematic review. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 21548–21573 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9821-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9821-8

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