A Review of Pollution Status and Toxicological Researches of Typical Brominated Flame Retardants Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and Decabromodiphenyl Ethane (DBDPE)

Abstract

With hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDs) and poly brominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) listed as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) have become two of the most widely produced and used brominated flame retardants (BFRs). The underlying ecological risk of TBBPA and DBDPE have received increasing attentions since these two typical BFRs are being detected at high concentrations in environmental media. This paper summarized the pollution status of TBBPA and DBDPE and their toxicological effects. TBBPA and DBDPE have been detected in multiple environmental media, such as atmosphere, waters, soil, sediment and organisms. In addition, more severe pollution could be found in industrial areas. TBBPA and DBDPE were even found in human body and breast milk. Overall, TBBPA presented developmental toxicity, hepatorenal toxicity, endocrine disruption effect, reproductive toxicity, and neurotoxicity, while DBDPE showed developmental toxicity, hepatorenal toxicity, and endocrine disruption effect. According to the limited reports on DBDPE toxicity, we concluded that DBDPE was of relatively low toxicity. The aim of this review is to help evaluate the environmental risk, analyze the environmental capacity, and governmentally control the production of TBBPA and DBDPE.