Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Decabromodiphenyl Ether (decaBDE)

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Pollutants of Global Concern

  • 47 Accesses

Abstract

Decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE), a member of the Poly Brominated Diphenyl Ether family (PBDEs), is a highly persistent flame retardant known for its environmental persistence and potential health risks. With no known natural occurrence, decaBDE was synthesized commercially as highly brominated flame retardants additive to reduce the risk of fire in various consumer products; plastic and textile industry being the major users. DecaBDE debrominates into lower brominated diphenyl ethers and these congeners are more toxic, bio-accumulative, and persistent in nature. This chapter provides an overview of decaBDE, its technical details, usage, and regulatory status at national and global level. It highlights its global presence, adverse effects on health and the environment, and management measures. The study emphasizes the need for strict regulations and safer alternatives to mitigate the impact of decaBDE.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abbasi, G., Li, L., & Breivik, K. (2019). Global historical stocks and emissions of PBDEs. Environmental Science & Technology, 53, 6330–6340. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.8b07032.ABRELPE, 2017. Panorama Dos Resíduos Åšolidos No Brasil 2016 https://doi.org/ISSN:2179-657 8303. [accessed Jan 12 2024].

  • Ahn, M. Y., Filley, T. R., Jafvert, C. T., Nies, L., Hua, I., & Bezares-Cruz, J. (2006). Photodegradation of decabromodiphenyl ether adsorbed onto clay minerals, metal oxides, and sediment. Environmental Science & Technology, 40(1), 215–220.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Binelli, A., Sarkar, S. K., Chatterjee, M., Riva, C., Parolini, M., deb Bhattacharya, B., ... & Satpathy, K. K. (2007). Concentration of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in sediment cores of Sundarban mangrove wetland, northeastern part of Bay of Bengal (India). Marine Pollution Bulletin, 54(8), 1220–1229.

    Google Scholar 

  • CEPA. (1999). Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 Federal Environmental Quality Guidelines Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs). https://www.ec.gc.ca/ese-ees/05DF7A37-60FF-403F-BB37-0CC697DBD9A3/FEQG_PBDE_EN.pdf

  • Choo, G., Lee, I.-S., & Oh, J.-E. (2019). Species and habitat-dependent accumulation and biomagnification of brominated flame retardants and PBDE metabolites. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 371, 175e182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daramola, M., Aransiola, E., & Ojumu, T. (2012). Potential applications of zeolite membranes in reaction coupling separation processes. Materials, 5, 2101.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ECB (European Chemicals Bureau). (2000). European Union risk assessment report diphenyl ether, pentabromo deriv. Institute for Health and Consumer Protection, Joint Research Centre, European Commission

    Google Scholar 

  • ECHA European Chemicals Agency. (2012). Support Document Bis(pentabromophenyl) ether [decabromodiphenyl ether] (Member State Committee, 29 November 2012).

    Google Scholar 

  • ECHA, European Chemicals Agency. (2013). Draft background document for Bis(pentabromophenyl)ether (decabromodiphenyl ether; decaBDE). Document developed in the context of ECHA’s fifth Recommendation for the inclusion of substances in Annex XIV. 24 June 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eljarrat, E., De La Cal, A., Larrazabal, D., Fabrellas, B., Fernandez-Alba, A. R., Borrull, F., ... & Barcelo, D. (2005). Occurrence of polybrominated diphenylethers, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans and biphenyls in coastal sediments from Spain. Environmental Pollution, 136(3), 493–501.

    Google Scholar 

  • EPA. (2008). 2,2′,3,3′,4,4′,5,5′,6,6′ - Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) (CASRN 1163-19-5). www.epa.gov/IRIS/subst/0035.htm

  • EPA. (2009). Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) Action Plan Summary. www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/actionplans/pbdes_ap_2009_1230_final.pdf

  • EPA. (2012). DecaBDE Phase-out Initiative. www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/actionplans/deccadbe.html

  • Eriksson, P., Jakobsson, E., & Fredriksson, A. (2001). Brominated flame retardants: A novel class of developmental neurotoxicants in our environment? Environmental Health Perspectives, 109, 903–908.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gascon, M., Fort, M., Martinez, D., Carsin, A. E., Forns, J., Grimalt, J. O., Santa Marina, L., Lertxundi, N., Sunyer, J., & Vrijheid, M. (2012). Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in breast milk and neuropsychological development in infants. Environmental Health Perspectives, 120(12), 1760–1765.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gerecke, A. C., Hartmann, P. C., Heeb, N. V., Kohler, H.-P. E., Giger, W., Schmid, P., Zennegg, M., & Kohler, M. (2005). Anaerobic degradation of decabromodiphenyl ether. Environmental Science and Technology, 39, 1078–1083.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hale, R. C., La Guardia, M. J., Harvey, E., Chen, D., Mainor, T. M., Luellen, D. R., & Hundal, L. S. (2012). Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in U.S. Sewage Sludges and Biosolids: Temporal and geographical trends and uptake by corn following land application. Environmental Science & Technology, 46, 2055–2063.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holm, G., Norrgren, L., Andersson, T., & Thu, N. A. (1993). Effects of exposure to food contaminate with PBDE, PCN or PCB on reproduction, liver morphology and cytochrome P450 activity in the three-spine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus. Journal of Aquatic Pollution and Toxicology, 27, 33–50.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, B. C., Ikonomou, M. G., Blair, J. D., & Gobas, F. A. (2008). Bioaccumulation behaviour of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in a Canadian Arctic marine food web. Science of the Total Environment, 401(1–3), 60–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohler, M., & Zennegg, M. (2008). Temporal trends, congener patterns, and sources of octa-, nona-, and decabromodiphenyl ethers (PBDE) and hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCD) in Swiss lake sediments. Environmental Science & Technology, 42(17), 6378–6384.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kortenkamp, A., Martin, O., Evans, R., Faust, M., & Backhaus, T. (2014). Risk of combination effects between decabromodiphenyl ether and other polybrominated diphenyl ethers (p. 152). Norwegian Environmental Protection Agency. Available at: http://www.miljodirektoratet.no/no/Publikasjoner/2014/Juli-2014/Risk-of-Combination-EffectsBetween-Decabromodiphenyl-Ether-and-Other-Polybrominated-Diphenyl-Ethers/

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuivikko, M., Kotiaho, T., Hartonen, K., Tanskanen, A., & Vahatalo, A. V. (2007). Modeled direct photolytic decomposition of Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in the Baltic Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Environmental Science & Technology, 41(20), 7016–7021.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumari, K. (Ed.). (2021). Persistent organic pollutants: Gaps in management and associated challenges (1st ed.). CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003046806

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kumari, K., Sharma, J. K., Kanade, G. S., et al. (2014). Investigation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in old consumer products in India. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 186, 3001–3009. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-013-3596-2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumari, K., Singh, A., Swamy, S., Singhar, R. S., & Thakur, S. (2022). Use of enzymatic biomarkers of Labeo rohita to study the effect of polybrominated diphenyl ether (BDE- 209) via dietary exposure in laboratory conditions. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 194(7), 499. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-09963-0

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Labunska, I., Brigden, K., Santillo, D., Kiselev, A., & Johnston, P. (2010). Russian Refuse #2: an update on PBDEs and other contaminants detected in St-Petersburg area, Russia. Greenpeace Research Laboratories Technical Note 04/2010.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lai, C. K., Man, Y. B., Zheng, J. S., Liang, Y., Tam, N. F. Y., & Wong, M. H. (2012). Characterizing the optimal operation of photocatalytic degradation of BDE-209 by nano-sized TiO2. Journal of Environmental Sciences, 24(9), 1670–1678. ISSN 1001-0742. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1001-0742(11)60992-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leal, J. F., Esteves, V. I., & Santos, E. B. H. (2013). BDE-209: Kinetic studies and effect of humic substances on photodegradation in water. Environmental Science & Technology, 47, 14010–14017.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, L., Chang, W., Wang, Y., Ji, H., Chen, C., Ma, W., & Zhao, J. (2014a). Rapid, photocatalytic, and deep debromination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers on Pd-TiO2: Intermediates and pathways. Chemistry - A European Journal, 20, 11163–11170.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, M., Liu, Z., Gu, L., Yin, R., Li, H., Zhang, X., Cao, T., & Jiang, C. (2014b). Toxic effects of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) on human embryonic kidney cells. Frontiers in Genetics, 5, 118. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2014.00118

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, L., & Zhu, W. (2011). Effect of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE 209) and dibromodiphenyl ether (BDE 15) on soil microbial activity and bacterial community composition. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 186(1), 883–890.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mai, B., Chen, S., Luo, X., Chen, L., Yang, Q., Sheng, G., Peng, P., Fu, J., & Zeng, E. Y. (2005). Distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in sediments of the Pearl River Delta and adjacent South China Sea. Environmental science & technology, 39(10), 3521–3527.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, S., Harrad, S., Abdallah, M. A.-E., Drage, D. S., & Berresheim, H. (2020). Phasing-out of legacy brominated flame retardants: The UNEP Stockholm Convention and other legislative action worldwide, 106041, ISSN 0160-4120. Environment International, 144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.106041

  • Moon, H. B., Kannan, K., Choi, M., & Choi, H. G. (2007). Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in marine sediments from industrialized bays of Korea. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 54(9), 1402–1412.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norris, J. M., Kociba, R. J., Schwetz, B. A., Rose, J. Q., Humiston, C. G., Jewett, G. L., Gehring, P. J., & Mailhes, J. B. (1975). Toxicology of octabromobiphenyl and decabromodiphenyl oxide. Environmental Health Perspectives, 11, 153–161.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Renner, R. (2000). Increasing levels of flame retardants found in North American environment. Environmental Science & Technology, 34, 452ae453a.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sierra, R., Wan, P., & Ikonomou, M. (2006). Photochemistry of a major commercial polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardant congener: 2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-Hexabromodiphenyl ether (BDE153). Environment International, 32(5), 575–585. ISSN 0160-4120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2006.01.009

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Söderström, G., Sellström, U., De Wit, C. A., & Tysklind, M. (2004). Photolytic debromination of decabromodipehnyly ether (BDE-209). Environmental Science & Technology, 38, 127–132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun, C., Zhao, J., Ji, H., Ma, W., & Chen, C. (2012). Photocatalytic debromination of preloaded decabromodiphenyl ether on the TiO2 surface in aqueous system. Chemosphere, 89, 420–425.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tiwari, M., Sahu, S. K., Bhangare, R. C., Ajmal, P. Y., & Pandit, G. G. (2018). Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in core sediments from creek ecosystem: Occurrence, geochronology, and source contribution. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 40(6), 2587–2601. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-018-0125-9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tokarz Iii, J. A., Ahn, M. Y., Leng, J., Filley, T. R., & Nies, L. (2008). Reductive debromination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in anaerobic sediment and a biomimetic system. Environmental Science & Technology, 42(4), 1157–1164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Toxics Link. (2011). Brominated Flame Retardants Spreading the Fire - A Report on the Recycling of Brominated Flame Retardant Contaminated Plastic. http://toxicslink.org/docs/BFR_Report_2011.pdf.

  • Tysklind, M., Sellström, U., Söderström, G., & de Wit C. (2001). Abiotic transformation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs): Photolytic debromination of decabromo diphenyl ether. The Second International Workshop on Brominated Flame Retardants, BFR 2001, May 14–16, Stockholm.

    Google Scholar 

  • US EPA. (2014). Technical Fact Sheet - Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) and Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBBs), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA 505-F-14-006, 2014

    Google Scholar 

  • US EPA. (2015). Regional Screening Levels (RSLs) - Generic Tables. https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1307/ML13078A051.pdf

  • Vane, C. H., Ma, Y. J., Chen, S. J., & Mai, B. X. (2010). Increasing polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) contamination in sediment cores from the inner Clyde Estuary, UK. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 32, 13–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Villanger, G. D., & Gabrielsen, K. M. (2013). Effects of complex organohalogen contaminant mixtures on thyroid homeostasis in hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) mother-pup pairs. Chemosphere, 92(7), 828–842.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Villanger, G. D., & Jenssen, B. M. (2011). Exposure to mixtures of organohalogen contaminants and associative interactions with thyroid hormones in East Greenland polar bears (Ursus maritimus). Environment International, 37(4), 694–708.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Villanger, G. D., & Lydersen, C. (2011). Disruptive effects of persistent organohalogen contaminants on thyroid function in white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from Svalbard. Science of Total Environment, 409(13), 2511–2524.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • WHO. (1994). World Health Organization - brominated diphenyl ethers. Environmental health criteria 162. Int. Prog. Chem. Saf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu, M. H., Xu, B. T., Xu, G. et al., (2017). Occurrence and profiles of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in riverine sediments of Shanghai: A combinative study with human serum from the locals. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 39, 729–738. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-016-9843-z

  • Wurl, O., & Obbard, J. P. (2005). Chemosphere, 58(7), 925–933.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan, C., Li, J., & Tan, Q. (2020). Trends of production, consumption and environmental emissions of Decabromodiphenyl ether in mainland China. Environmental Pollution, 260, 114022. ISSN 0269-7491. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114022

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Kolkata Zonal Center, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

    Kanchan Kumari

Authors
  1. Kanchan Kumari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kanchan Kumari .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Kumari, K. (2024). Decabromodiphenyl Ether (decaBDE). In: Pollutants of Global Concern. Emerging Contaminants and Associated Treatment Technologies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-50996-4_23

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation