title: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers and their hydroxylated/methoxylated analogs: environmental sources, metabolic relationships, and relative toxicities.
abstract: Brominated compounds are ubiquitous in the aquatic environment. The polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants are anthropogenic compounds of concern. Studies suggest that PBDEs can be biotransformed to hydroxylated brominated diphenyl ethers (OH-BDE). However, the rate of OH-BDE formation observed has been extremely small. OH-BDEs have also been identified as natural compounds produced by some marine invertebrates. Another class of compounds, the methoxylated BDEs (MeO-BDEs), has also been identified as natural compounds in the marine environment. Both the OH-BDEs and MeO-BDEs bioaccumulate in higher marine organisms. Recent studies have demonstrated that MeO-BDEs can be biotransformed to OH-BDEs and this generates greater amounts of OH-BDEs than could be generated from PBDEs. Consequently, MeO-BDEs likely represent the primary source of metabolically derived OH-BDEs. Given that for some endpoints OH-BDEs often exhibit greater toxicity compared to PBDEs, it is prudent to consider OH-BDEs as chemicals of concern, despite their seemingly "natural" origins.
authors: Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 5B3.
authors: Steve B
authors: SB
authors: Wiseman
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Wan
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Chang
authors: Xiaowei
authors: X
authors: Zhang
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Hecker
authors: Paul D
authors: PD
authors: Jones
authors: John P
authors: JP
authors: Giesy
mesh_terms: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000187:drug effects; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D006900:Hydroxylation
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers