Preliminary assessment of U.K. human dietary and inhalation exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers.
This study reports concentrations of BDEs 47, 99, 100, 153, and 154 in outdoor air [median sigmaPBDE (sum of BDEs 47, 99, 100, 153, and 154) = 18 pg m(-3)] in air from a range of office and home indoor microenvironments (median sigmaPBDE = 762 pg m(-3)) and vegan and omnivorous duplicate diet samples (median sigmaPBDE = 154 and 181 pg g(-1) dryweightforvegan and omnivorous diets, respectively). Median daily human exposure to sigmaPBDE via inhalation is 6.9 ng/person and 90.5 ng/person via diet but the relative significance of these pathways may vary considerably between individuals. Median concentrations in indoor air were higher in workplace (sigmaPBDE = 1082 pg m(-3)) than in domestic (sigmaPBDE = 128 pg m(-3)) microenvironments, and substantial differences in concentrations in air from different rooms in the same office building were found. When data from the only mechanically ventilated room was excluded, a significant positive correlation (p < 0.001) was observed between PBDE concentrations and both the number of electrical appliances and polyurethane foam-containing chairs. Concentrations of sigmaPBDE and BDEs 47 and 99 were significantly higher (p < 0.1) in omnivorous diet samples than in vegan diet samples, implying that while plant-based foods contribute appreciably, higher exposure occurs via ingestion of animal-based comestibles.
Harrad
Stuart
S
Division of Environmental Health and Risk Management, Public Health Building, School of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom. S.J.Harrad@bham.ac.uk
Wijesekera
Ramanee
R
Hunter
Stuart
S
Halliwell
Chris
C
Baker
Robert
R
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D003296:Cooking; D004032:Diet; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004987:Ethers / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008460:Meat; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D006113:United Kingdom
D004987:Ethers; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls