A Small Dose of ™ PBDEs
Out of Harm’s Way:
Protecting Children’s Health -Science, Ethics and Policy
An Introduction to the
Health Effects of PBDEs
September 18, 2004 - University of Washington
Steven G. Gilbert, PhD, DABT
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Infant & Child Health
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Vision for Child Health
“Children can develop
and mature in an
environment that allows
them to reach and
maintain their full
potential.”
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Convergence of Issues
• Recognition of Sensitivity of
Children
• Knowledge of toxicology
• Policy Approach within an
ethical framework
•
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Social responsibilities
No technical solutions
Restriction of freedoms
Precautionary Principle
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American 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
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American 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
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Fetal Effects of MeHg
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Lead In Homes
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Lead in Families
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FAS Child
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Purpose of PBDEs
PolyBrominated Diphenyl Ether
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Fire kills more than 3,000/year
Injures more than 20,000
$11 billion in damage
Flame retardants
Used in many consumer products
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Structure of PBDEs
PolyBrominated Diphenyl Ether
O
Brx
Br
y
X & Y are number of Bromine atoms
e.g. decaPBDE has 10 Bromines
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How much PBDEs are used?
Millions of lbs used/year (2001)
PBDEs
Americas Europe
Asia
Deca-
53.9
16.7
50.6
Octa-
3.3
1.3
3.3
Penta-
15.6
0.33
0.33
Total –
72.8
18.4
54.2
Total world-wide 148.3 M lbs/yr
Data from BSEF (2001)
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PBDEs 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, wastewater 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
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PBDEs 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
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Degradation 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
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Transport of PBDEs
Atmospheric transport – found in
artic sediment, mussels and
animals
Remote Canadian lakes
Island in Baltic
Indoor dust
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PBDEs in House Dust (ppb)
From EWG - Toxic Fire Retardants Contaminate American Homes - http://www.ewg.org/reports/inthedust/summary.php
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Bioavailability 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)
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PBDEs Breast Milk - Sweden
(Norén and Mieronyté, 1998)
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PBDEs in Breast Milk (ppb)
From EWG - Toxic Fire Retardants in Breast Milk from American Mothers - http://www.ewg.org/reports/mothersmilk/es.php
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WA 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 women’s 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
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PBDEs In Milk Fat
PBDE in milk fat - Puget Sound mothers
175
156
ppb in Milk Fat
150
117
125
126
100
75
50
25
50
56
5
6
26
13
13
13
1
2
3
0
4
7
8
9
Sample Number
(adapted from Northwest Environmental Watch, 2004)
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Additional Reports - PBDEs
Texas 2002 – Breast milk from 47
mothers – median 34 ppb
Across U.S. - 20 breast milk samples –
median 58 ppb
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Additional Reports - PBDEs
Medain PBDE level in Lipid
(ppb)
Comparison of World Wide PBDE levels in lipid
70
58
60
50
50
40
34
25
30
20
10
1.3
2.1
Japan
(2000)
Sweden
(2001)
0
Canada
(2001-02)
Texas
(2002)
(adapted from Northwest Environmental Watch, 2004)
United
States
(2002-03)
Puget
Sound
(2003)
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Importance 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
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Health 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
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Do 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?
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What do we know?
PBDEs migrate out of products
Found in the environment and animals
Found homes and mother’s 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
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PBDEs – International Status
Europe
 Banned - Penta and octa-PBDE
 Deca-PBDE used in electronics
(greatest use of deca)
 Deca will be banned by 2006
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PBDEs – 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
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PBDEs – 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
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PBDEs & 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
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PBDEs & 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
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Alternatives
 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
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“The Commons”
The Tragedy of the Commons
By Garrett Hardin, Science, 1968
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Technical Solutions
“It is our considered
professional judgment that
this dilemma has no
technical solution.”
The Tragedy of the Commons
By Garrett Hardin, Science, 1968
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Problems – Solutions?
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Lead and kids
Fetal alcohol syndrome
Nuclear disarmament
Bioterrorism
Ocean Fisheries
Persistent chemicals
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The Commons
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Precautionary 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.
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Safety & 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)
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Central 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.
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Examples of Precautionary Approach
• Changes in purchase policy to
less toxic cleaners & paints
• Integrated pest management
• Banning chemicals in consumer
products
• Approach to decision making
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Advocate 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
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Socially Responsible Actions
• Testifying
• Writing review papers
• K-12 class room
teaching
• Adding expertise to
community groups
• Education
• Mentoring
• Speakers Bureau
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The Potential of Children
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ELSI of Neurotoxicology and Kids
Questions or Comments?
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Additional Information
 Flame Retardants In Puget Sound Residents - A study of
toxic body burdens
(http://www.northwestwatch.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)
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Contact Information
Steven G. Gilbert, PhD, DABT
Director, INND
E-mail: sgilbert@innd.org
www.asmalldoseof.org
(slides are available at this web site)
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