Title: A Small Dose of PBDEs
1A Small Dose of PBDEs
An Introduction to the Health Effects of PBDEs
Steven G. Gilbert, PhD, DABT www.asmalldoseof.org
2Infant Child Health
3Vision for Child Health
Children can develop and mature in an
environment that allows them to reach and
maintain their full potential.
4Convergence of Issues
- Recognition of Sensitivity of Children
- Knowledge of toxicology
- Policy Approach within an ethical framework
- Social responsibilities
- No technical solutions
- Restriction of freedoms
- Precautionary Principle
5American Academy of Pediatrics
Mission and vision To attain optimal physical,
mental and social health and well-being for all
infants, children, adolescents and young adults.
http//www.aap.org/member/memcore.htm
6American Academy of Pediatrics
The AAP goes on to state To this purpose, the
AAP and its members dedicate their efforts and
resources. The vision 1) to advocate for
infants, children, adolescents, and young adults
and provide for their care 2) to collaborate
with others to assure child health and .
http//www.aap.org/member/memcore.htm
7Fetal Effects of MeHg
8Lead In Homes
9Lead in Families
10FAS Child
11Purpose of PBDEs
PolyBrominated Diphenyl Ether
- Fire kills more than 3,000/year
- Injures more than 20,000
- 11 billion in damage
- Flame retardants
- Used in many consumer products
12Structure of PBDEs
PolyBrominated Diphenyl Ether
X Y are number of Bromine atoms e.g. decaPBDE
has 10 Bromines
13How much PBDEs are used?
Millions of lbs used/year (2001)
Total world-wide 148.3 M lbs/yr
Data from BSEF (2001)
14PBDEs in Consumer Products
Plastics - Deca, Octa, Penta Computers,
televisions, hair dryers, curling irons, copy
machines, fax machines, printers, coffee makers,
plastic automotive parts, lighting panels, PVC
wire and cables, electrical connectors, fuses,
housings, boxes and switches, lamp sockets,
waste-water pipes, underground junction boxes,
circuit boards, smoke detectors Textiles - Deca,
Penta Back coatings and impregnation of home and
office furniture, industrial drapes, carpets,
automotive seating, aircraft and train seating
15PBDEs in Consumer Products
Polyurethane foam - Penta Home and office
furniture (couches and chairs, carpet padding,
mattresses and mattress pads) automobile, bus,
plane and train seating, sound insulation panels,
imitation wood, packaging materials Rubber -
Deca, Penta Conveyor belts, foamed pipes for
insulation, rubber cables Paints and lacquers -
Deca, Penta Marine and industry protective
lacquers and paints
16Degradation of PBDEs
- Sunlight / UV light breaks down PBDEs (encourages
debromination) - Slower to break down in doors increased in door
exposure to deca - Debrominates to more toxic PBDEs
17Transport of PBDEs
- Atmospheric transport found in artic sediment,
mussels and animals - Remote Canadian lakes
- Island in Baltic
- Indoor dust
18PBDEs in House Dust (ppb)
From EWG - Toxic Fire Retardants Contaminate
American Homes - http//www.ewg.org/reports/inthed
ust/summary.php
19Bioavailability of PBDEs
- Found in animals
- Increase in fish
- Increase in whales
- Sewage sludge
- PCBs Found in Lake Washington Fish (PBDEs next?)
- Found in human (breast milk)
20PBDEs Breast Milk - Sweden
(Norén and Mieronyté, 1998)
21PBDEs in Breast Milk (ppb)
From EWG - Toxic Fire Retardants in Breast Milk
from American Mothers - http//www.ewg.org/reports
/mothersmilk/es.php
22WA State PBDEs Burdens
- Flame Retardants In Puget Sound Residents - A
study of toxic body burdens - Joint study by Northwest Environmental Watch and
Washington Toxics Coalition - What was found in womens breast milk
- 9 samples range 13 to 156 ppb PBDEs
- Median 50 ppb (parts per billion)
- Japan blood median 1.3 ppb
- Swedish breast milk median 2.1 ppb
23PBDEs In Milk Fat
(adapted from Northwest Environmental Watch, 2004)
24Additional Reports - PBDEs
- Texas 2002 Breast milk from 47 mothers median
34 ppb - Across U.S. - 20 breast milk samples median 58
ppb
25Additional Reports - PBDEs
(adapted from Northwest Environmental Watch, 2004)
26Importance of Breast Feeding
- Absolutely the best infant food
- Despite the chemical found in breast milk, the
benefits outweigh any risk - Reduces incidence of a number of diseases and
infections - Formula milk may also have contaminants
- Breast feeding good for mothers too
27Health Effects of PBDEs
- Similar to PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls)
- PBT (Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxicant)
- No human data
- Animals studies indicate
- Effects thyroid hormone levels
- Neurobehavioral toxicity
- Effects development - alters Behavior
- Impairs memory and learning
- Delays sexual development
28Do we need to know more?
- Health effects deca-PBDE?
- Animals studies neurobehavioral, endocrine
effects? - Human studies?
- Metabolism is deca-PBDE metabolized to more
toxic metabolites? How fast? Persistent in body? - Break down does deca-PBDE break down in the
environment to penta or octa? Impact of UV light?
29What do we know?
- PBDEs migrate out of products
- Found in the environment and animals
- Found homes and mothers breast milk
- PCBs and PBDEs very similar
- PBDEs have health effects at low doses
- Deca-PBDE has effects (may be from metabolites)
- Deca-does break down and is metabolized
- Therefore we need to adapt a precautionary
approach
30PBDEs International Status
- Europe
- Banned - Penta and octa-PBDE
- Deca-PBDE used in electronics (greatest use of
deca) - Deca will be banned by 2006
31PBDEs National Status
U.S. EPA and a U.S. chemical manufacturer, agreed
to phase out Penta and Octa-PBDE by end of
2004 Deca-PBDE in consumer electronics (80 of
the chemical's commercial use) no agreement
32PBDEs California Status
- Legislation to ban - Penta and Octa-PBDE
- Did not ban Deca-PBDE
- Must report amount of electronic waste and toxic
chemicals in waste such as PBDEs, metals
33PBDEs WA State
Jan 2004 - Governor Locke issued an Executive
Order directing the Department of Ecology to
develop a phase out plan March 2004 - March
2004, the Washington State Legislature funded the
development of a PBDE phase out plan Advisory
panel formed
34PBDEs WA State - Status
- Dept. of Ecology Draft Report
- A complete ban on Penta and Octa-PBDE
- A ban on Deca-PBDE in consumer electronics (80
of the chemical's commercial use). - Public hearing October 19th
http//www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/pbt/pbde/index.
html
35Alternatives
- Buy products with natural fibers (cotton and
wool) that are naturally fire resistant. - Choice materials that do not have or need
flame-retardants (IKEA uses no PBDEs) - Manufactures are redesigning products
- Research for new flame-retardants
36The Commons
The Tragedy of the Commons By Garrett Hardin,
Science, 1968
37Technical Solutions
It is our considered professional judgment that
this dilemma has no technical solution. The
Tragedy of the Commons By Garrett Hardin,
Science, 1968
38Problems Solutions?
- Lead and kids
- Fetal alcohol syndrome
- Nuclear disarmament
- Bioterrorism
- Ocean Fisheries
- Persistent chemicals
- PBDEs in breast milk
- The Commons
39Precautionary Principle
When an activity raises threats of harm to human
health or the environment, precautionary measures
should be take even if some cause and effect
relationships are not fully established
scientifically. Wingspread Conference, 1998.
40Safety Efficacy vs Harm
- FDA regulations of Drugs (1938)
- FDA regulations of Dietary Supplements (Dietary
Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994
(DSHEA)) - Ephedra present an unreasonable risk of illness
or injury (Dec, 2003)
41Central components
- Taking preventive action in the face of
uncertainty - Shifting the burden of responsibility to the
proponents of an activity - Exploring a wide range of alternatives to
possibly harmful actions - Increasing public participation in decision
making - Wingspread Conference, 1998.
42Examples of Precautionary Approach
- Changes in purchase policy to less toxic cleaners
paints - Integrated pest management
- Banning chemicals in consumer products
- Approach to decision making
43Advocate for Public Health
- Children have a right to a safe, fair, and
healthy environment - Ethical Responsibility to share and use of
knowledge - Duty to promote health and well being of children
- Thoughtful public health advocate
44Socially Responsible Actions
- Testifying
- Writing review papers
- K-12 class room teaching
- Adding expertise to community groups
- Education
- Mentoring
- Speakers Bureau
45The Potential of Children
46A Small Dose of PBDEs
47Additional Information
- Flame Retardants In Puget Sound Residents - A
study of toxic body burdens (http//www.northwestw
atch.org/pollution/) - Washington Toxics Coalition (www.watoxics.org)
- Washington State Department of Ecology
(http//www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/pbt/pbde/index
.html) - Birnbaum, L. S., Staskal, D. F. (2004).
Brominated flame retardants cause for concern?
Environ Health Perspect, 112(1), 9-17. (available
on line at www.ehponline.org) - Hooper, K., McDonald, T. A. (2000). The PBDEs
an emerging environmental challenge and another
reason for breast-milk monitoring programs.
Environ Health Perspect, 108(5), 387-392.
(available on line at www.ehponline.org)
48Contact Information
This presentation is supplement to A Small
Dose of Toxicology
For Additional Information Contact Steven G.
Gilbert, PhD, DABT E-mail smdose_at_asmalldoseof.org
Web www.asmalldoseof.org