Polybrominated diphenyl ethers: causes for concern and knowledge gaps regarding environmental distribution, fate and toxicity.
This manuscript critically considers several areas of study of the polybrominated diphenyl ether compounds. Specifically, a brief review of PBDE toxicity is followed by an in depth discussion of PBDE occurrence in abiotic and biotic environmental matrices. Temporal and geographic trends are examined in conjunction with risk assessment factors. Rather than summarize or tabulate the growing body of literature on PBDEs in the environment, the overall goal of this review paper is to highlight broad patterns that may contribute to a more holistic understanding of PBDE behavior in the environment, as well as to identify critical areas of research that warrant further attention.
United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Microbiological and Chemical Exposure Assessment Research Division, Chemical Exposure Research Branch, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268, USA. vonderheide.anne@epa.gov
Anne P
AP
Vonderheide
Kevin E
KE
Mueller
Juris
J
Meija
Gwendolyn L
GL
Welsh
D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D017753:Ecosystem; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D005843:Geography; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D018570:Risk Assessment
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers