Predictors of Tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBP-A) and Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCD) in Milk from Boston Mothers

Overview

Journal Environ Sci Technol

Publisher American Chemical Society

Specialty Environmental Health

Date 2012 Sep 25

PMID 22998345

Citations 19

Authors

Courtney C Carignan

Mohamed Abou-Elwafa Abdallah

Nerissa Wu

Wendy Heiger-Bernays

Michael D McClean

Stuart Harrad

Thomas F Webster

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBP-A) and hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) are brominated flame retardants that have been found in human milk and serum throughout the world, but have received comparatively little attention in the United States. The objective of this study is to determine concentrations of these analytes in samples of breast milk collected from first-time mothers in the Greater Boston, Massachusetts area and to explore predictors of exposure. Human milk samples were analyzed by LC-ESI-MS/MS for TBBP-A, HBCDs (the α, β, and γ diastereomers), and HBCD degradation products: pentabromocyclododecanes (PBCDs) and tetrabromocyclododecadienes (TBCDs). HBCD diastereomers were detected in all samples with α-HBCD present in the highest proportion. TBBP-A, PBCDs, and TBCDs were detected in 35%, 42%, and 56% of the analyzed samples, respectively. Self-reported demographic, dietary and behavioral data were examined as predictors of HBCD levels. Levels of HBCD were significantly, positively associated with the number of stereo and video electronics in the home (17% increase/item; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 4-31%) and reduced in participants who regularly chose organic foods compared to those who did not (0.51, 95% CI = 0.32-0.82). These results suggest that lifestyle factors are related to body burdens of HBCD and that domestic electronics may be an important source of HBCD exposure in the indoor environment.

Citing Articles

Uterine Microbiota and Bisphenols: Novel Influencers in Reproductive Health.

Castellanos-Ruiz D, Ojeda-Borbolla J, Ruiz-Garcia O, Pena-Corona S, Martinez-Pena A, Ibarra-Rubio M J Xenobiot. 2025; 15(1).

PMID: 39997369 PMC: 11856463. DOI: 10.3390/jox15010026.

Environmental Obesogens and Their Perturbations in Lipid Metabolism.

Wang X, Sun Z, Liu Q, Zhou Q, Jiang G Environ Health (Wash). 2024; 2(5):253-268.

PMID: 39474325 PMC: 11504211. DOI: 10.1021/envhealth.3c00202.

Update of the scientific opinion on tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and its derivatives in food.

Schrenk D, Bignami M, Bodin L, Chipman J, Del Mazo J, Grasl-Kraupp B EFSA J. 2024; 22(7):e8859.

PMID: 39010865 PMC: 11247339. DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8859.

Has Regulatory Action Reduced Human Exposure to Flame Retardants?.

van der Schyff V, Kalina J, Abballe A, Iamiceli A, Govarts E, Melymuk L Environ Sci Technol. 2023; 57(48):19106-19124.

PMID: 37992205 PMC: 10702444. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c02896.

A Review on Tetrabromobisphenol A: Human Biomonitoring, Toxicity, Detection and Treatment in the Environment.

Miao B, Yakubu S, Zhu Q, Issaka E, Zhang Y, Adams M Molecules. 2023; 28(6).

PMID: 36985477 PMC: 10054480. DOI: 10.3390/molecules28062505.

References

Abdallah M, Harrad S . Tetrabromobisphenol-A, hexabromocyclododecane and its degradation products in UK human milk: relationship to external exposure. Environ Int. 2010; 37(2):443-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2010.11.008. View

Asante K, Adu-Kumi S, Nakahiro K, Takahashi S, Isobe T, Sudaryanto A . Human exposure to PCBs, PBDEs and HBCDs in Ghana: Temporal variation, sources of exposure and estimation of daily intakes by infants. Environ Int. 2011; 37(5):921-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2011.03.011. View

Law R, Allchin C, de Boer J, Covaci A, Herzke D, Lepom P . Levels and trends of brominated flame retardants in the European environment. Chemosphere. 2006; 64(2):187-208. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2005.12.007. View

Abdallah M, Harrad S, Covaci A . Hexabromocyclododecanes and tetrabromobisphenol-A in indoor air and dust in Birmingham, U.K: implications for human exposure. Environ Sci Technol. 2008; 42(18):6855-61. DOI: 10.1021/es801110a. View

Harrad S, Abdallah M, Rose N, Turner S, Davidson T . Current-use brominated flame retardants in water, sediment, and fish from English lakes. Environ Sci Technol. 2009; 43(24):9077-83. DOI: 10.1021/es902185u. View

Janak K, Sellstrom U, Johansson A, Becher G, de Wit C, Lindberg P . Enantiomer-specific accumulation of hexabromocyclododecanes in eggs of predatory birds. Chemosphere. 2008; 73(1 Suppl):S193-200. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2007.03.077. View

Riu A, Grimaldi M, le Maire A, Bey G, Phillips K, Boulahtouf A . Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ is a target for halogenated analogs of bisphenol A. Environ Health Perspect. 2011; 119(9):1227-32. PMC: 3230400. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1003328. View

Johnson-Restrepo B, Adams D, Kannan K . Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) in tissues of humans, dolphins, and sharks from the United States. Chemosphere. 2007; 70(11):1935-44. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2007.10.002. View

Law R . Tetrabromobisphenol A: investigating the worst-case scenario. Mar Pollut Bull. 2009; 58(4):459-60. DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2009.02.023. View

10.

Covaci A, Voorspoels S, Abdallah M, Geens T, Harrad S, Law R . Analytical and environmental aspects of the flame retardant tetrabromobisphenol-A and its derivatives. J Chromatogr A. 2008; 1216(3):346-63. DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2008.08.035. View

11.

Cariou R, Antignac J, Zalko D, Berrebi A, Cravedi J, Maume D . Exposure assessment of French women and their newborns to tetrabromobisphenol-A: occurrence measurements in maternal adipose tissue, serum, breast milk and cord serum. Chemosphere. 2008; 73(7):1036-41. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2008.07.084. View

12.

Antignac J, Cariou R, Maume D, Marchand P, Monteau F, Zalko D . Exposure assessment of fetus and newborn to brominated flame retardants in France: preliminary data. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2008; 52(2):258-65. DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.200700077. View

13.

Eriksson P, Fischer C, Wallin M, Jakobsson E, Fredriksson A . Impaired behaviour, learning and memory, in adult mice neonatally exposed to hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD). Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2011; 21(3):317-22. DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2005.10.001. View

14.

Janak K, Covaci A, Voorspoels S, Becher G . Hexabromocyclododecane in marine species from the Western Scheldt Estuary: diastereoisomer- and enantiomer-specific accumulation. Environ Sci Technol. 2005; 39(7):1987-94. DOI: 10.1021/es0484909. View

15.

Roosens L, Abdallah M, Harrad S, Neels H, Covaci A . Exposure to hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) via dust ingestion, but not diet, correlates with concentrations in human serum: preliminary results. Environ Health Perspect. 2010; 117(11):1707-12. PMC: 2801203. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.0900869. View

16.

Harrad S, Abdallah M, Covaci A . Causes of variability in concentrations and diastereomer patterns of hexabromocyclododecanes in indoor dust. Environ Int. 2008; 35(3):573-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2008.10.005. View

17.

Malarvannan G, Kunisue T, Isobe T, Sudaryanto A, Takahashi S, Prudente M . Organohalogen compounds in human breast milk from mothers living in Payatas and Malate, the Philippines: levels, accumulation kinetics and infant health risk. Environ Pollut. 2009; 157(6):1924-32. DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2009.01.010. View

18.

Pullen S, Boecker R, Tiegs G . The flame retardants tetrabromobisphenol A and tetrabromobisphenol A-bisallylether suppress the induction of interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain (CD25) in murine splenocytes. Toxicology. 2002; 184(1):11-22. DOI: 10.1016/s0300-483x(02)00442-0. View

19.

Tue N, Sudaryanto A, Minh T, Isobe T, Takahashi S, Viet P . Accumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls and brominated flame retardants in breast milk from women living in Vietnamese e-waste recycling sites. Sci Total Environ. 2010; 408(9):2155-62. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.01.012. View

20.

Thomsen C, Stigum H, Froshaug M, Broadwell S, Becher G, Eggesbo M . Determinants of brominated flame retardants in breast milk from a large scale Norwegian study. Environ Int. 2009; 36(1):68-74. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2009.10.002. View