Polybrominated diphenyl ethers

The family of PBDEs consists of 209 possible substances, which are called congeners (PBDE = C12H(10−x)BrxO (x = 1, 2, ..., 10 = m + n)). The number of isomers for mono-, di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-, hexa-, hepta-, octa-, nona-, and decabromodiphenyl ethers are 3, 12, 24, 42, 46, 42, 24, 12, 3 and 1, respectively. Lower-brominated PBDEs with 1–4 bromine atoms per molecule are regarded as more dangerous because they more efficiently bioaccumulate. They have been known to affect thyroid hormone levels, and studies have linked them to reproductive and neurological risks at certain concentrations or higher. Higher-brominated PBDEs are less acutely dangerous but biotically and photochemically debrominate to lower-brominated congeners. ==Production==

PBDEs were produced commercially via the bromination of diphenyl ether, with three technical-grade mixtures being sold, varying by degree of bromination. In the United States, PBDEs were marketed with the trade names DE-60F, DE-61, DE-62, and DE-71 applied to pentaBDE mixtures, DE-79 applied to octaBDE mixtures, and DE 83R and Saytex 102E applied to decaBDE mixtures. The available commercial PBDE products were not single compounds or even single congeners but rather mixtures of congeners. Technical pentaBDE predominantly contained pentabromo derivatives (50–62%); however, the mixture also contained tetrabromides (24–38%) and hexabromides (4–8%), as well as traces of the tribromides (0–1%). Technical octaBDE was a mixture of homologs: hexa-, hepta-, octa-, nona-, and decabromides. Technical decaBDE was 97% decabromide, with small amounts of octa- and nonabromides. and continued until the early 2010s. Cumulative global production is estimated to have been 175kt for pentaBDE, 130kt for octaBDE, and 1600kt for decaBDE. ==Health and environmental concerns==

Exposure Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) can be released into the environment where they are used or produced, possibly entering air, water, soil or the human digestive system when consumed, inhaled or via the skin. Despite the banning and phase out of several forms of PBDEs, many consumer products still contain them in the 21st century, and represent potential exposure sources, including furniture and other consumer products containing polyurethane foam, appliances, pipes, plastics, and old electronic equipment. Generally, governments have determined that PBDEs are not harmful to human health in the exposure amounts assessed. PBDEs have not been detected beyond trace levels in water. Sediment contamination Increasing environmental concentrations and changing distributions of PBDEs in sediments of the Clyde River Estuary in Scotland, UK have been assessed. Analysis of six sediment cores each of 1 m depth from Glasgow city to Greenock revealed that total concentrations increased toward the river bed surface (0–10 cm). Amounts of PBDE ranged from 1 to 2,645 µg/kg (dry wt. sediment) with a mean of 287 µg/kg (dry wt. sediment). ==Regulations of PBDEs==

United States In August 2003, the State of California outlawed the sale of penta- and octaBDE and products containing them, effective 1 January 2008. PBDEs are ubiquitous in the environment, and, according to the EPA, exposure may pose health risks. According to U.S. EPA's Integrated Risk Information System, evidence indicates that PBDEs may possess liver toxicity, thyroid toxicity, and neurodevelopmental toxicity. In June 2008, the U.S. EPA set a safe daily exposure level ranging from 0.1 to 7 μg/kg body weight per day for the four most common PBDE congeners. In April 2007, the legislature of the state of Washington passed a bill banning the use of PBDEs. The State of Maine Department of Environmental Protection has restrictions on PBDEs, and in 2008, the legislature passed a bill phasing out the use of decaBDE. The U.S. importers and manufacturers of PBDEs withdrew pentaBDE and octaBDE from sale in 2004, and decaBDE from sale by the end of 2013. In November 2024, the EPA added decaBDE to the Toxic Substances Control Act to prohibit release into water during manufacturing, processing or distribution in commerce of decaBDE and decaBDE-containing products, and a phase-out of processing and distribution of wire and cable insulation containing decaDBE for nuclear power facilities. Canada Since 2012, PBDEs are among chemicals prohibited from manufacture, use, sale, offer for sale or import, as regulated in the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations of the 1999 Canadian Environmental Protection Act. PBDEs are regarded in the regulation as "toxic to the environment and/or human health, are generally persistent, bioaccumulative, and/or inherently toxic." In 2017, it was decided to also list decaBDE. ==Alternatives==

Major decaBDE producers have switched to manufacturing decabromodiphenyl ethane, a structurally related compound that has also come under suspicion as an environmental pollutant. Non-halogenated alternatives also exist. == References ==