title: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers fate in China: a review with an emphasis on environmental contamination levels, human exposure and regulation.
abstract: Because of their highly effective flame-retardant capability, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been extensively used as flame retardants in consumer goods. However, compelling evidence shows that many congeners of PBDEs have been accumulating in the environment, in biota and in human populations worldwide. In China, although octabrominated diphenyl ether (octaBDE) has never been produced or used, pentabrominated diphenyl ether (pentaBDE) and decabrominated diphenyl ether (decaBDE) have been produced and used in large quantities. In the face of increasing evidence about PBDE pollution and the adoption of international conventions, there is a growing push for China to develop more stringent methods of managing PBDE waste. This paper summarizes the information about PBDE production and application, describes the flame-retarding mechanism, and then reviews the toxicity and levels of PBDEs in China's environmental media and human tissues. Based on international regulations on PBDEs, the paper finally puts forward some suggestions for Chinese policy making and for self-regulation within the flame retardant industry.
authors.affiliation: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Haidian District, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jinhui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Nana
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers