Evaluation of the phytotoxicity of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) in Chinese cabbage

Abstract

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widely used brominated flame retardants (BFRs) with excellent thermal stability and flame retardancy, which have been used in a wide array of products, including textiles, plastics, electronic equipment, and building materials (McGrath et al. 2017). PBDEs consist of up to ten bromine atoms, which have 209 congeners. Penta-BDE, octa-BDE, and deca-BDE are the major commercial BFRs of PBDEs composed of a mixture of congeners (Law et al. 2006). Due to their toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation, some lower brominated congeners have been listed as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and banned by the European