Chemical characterization of brominated flame retardants and identification of structurally representative compounds.

Three training sets were selected, each consisting of 10 structurally diverse compounds representative of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) that are either in use or have been used. Just three compounds account for nearly all the total production volume of BFRs. In the present study, however, the physicochemical characteristics of a far more structurally diverse set of 65 BFRs was explored using 15 molecular descriptors (including log P, constitutional counts, and semiempirical quantum mechanical parameters) and principal component analysis (PCA).

Neurobehavioral derangements in adult mice receiving decabrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE 209) during a defined period of neonatal brain development.

Flame retardants are used to suppress or inhibit combustion processes in an effort to reduce the risk of fire. One class of flame retardants, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), has been found to be increasing in the environment and in human milk. Previous studies have shown that lower brominated PBDEs, tetra-, penta-, and hexabrominated diphenyl ethers, can cause developmental neurotoxic effects.

Decabromodiphenyl ether in the rat: absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.

Among the group of polybrominated diphenyl ethers used as flame-retardants, the fully brominated diphenyl ether, decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE), is the most commonly used. Despite the large usage of decaBDE, neither the metabolic pathways nor the absorption have been addressed, and there are very few studies on its toxicology. In this work, it is shown that after a single oral dose of 14C-labeled decaBDE to rats, at least 10% of the decaBDE dose is absorbed.