Elsevier

Toxicology

Volume 248, Issue 1, 3 June 2008, Pages 25-32
Toxicology

Human exposure to PBDEs through the diet in Catalonia, Spain: Temporal trend: A review of recent literature on dietary PBDE intake

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2008.03.006Get rights and content

Abstract

The mean concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) (sum tetra- to octaBDEs) were determined in samples of foodstuffs widely consumed by the population of Catalonia, Northeast Spain. The following six tetra-through heptabrominated congeners were also individually analyzed: PBDEs 47, 99, 100, 153, 154 and 183. Food samples were randomly acquired in 12 cities of Catalonia between March and June of 2006. The dietary intake of PBDEs was estimated for the population of this region. In order to determine the temporal trend on the exposure to PBDEs through the diet, the results were compared with those of a previous survey performed during 2000. The highest concentration of total PBDEs was found in fish and shellfish (563.9 ng/kg of wet weight), followed by oils and fats (359.3 ng/kg ww), and bakery products (98.8 ng/kg ww). Among six individually analyzed congeners, for most food groups BDE-47 and BDE-99 showed the highest levels. The dietary intake of PBDEs for a standard male adult of 70 kg body weight was 75.4 ng/day (or 1.1 ng/kg body weight/day, assuming ND = LOD/2). On a body weight basis, it means a decrease of 23% with respect to the daily intake of the 2000 survey (97.3 ng/day or 1.4 ng/kg/body weight/day). Finally, the current PBDE intake is compared with the results of recent studies on the dietary intake of PBDEs performed in various European, North American, and Asian countries.

Introduction

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a class of brominated flame retardants widely used in a variety of consumer products, which have been produced in notable quantities (Alaee et al., 2003). In recent years, a marked increase in the levels of PBDEs in human biological fluids such as breast milk, has been observed in various countries (Gómara et al., 2007, Schuhmacher et al., 2007, She et al., 2007, Toms et al., 2007, Schecter et al., 2008). Due to the association of PBDEs with endocrine disruption, reproductive and developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity, and potential cancer, adverse effects that have been already reported in rodent studies, the increasing presence of PBDEs in human tissues is of particular concern (Birnbaum et al., 2003, Darnerud, 2003, Gill et al., 2004). Since dioxins’ and similar persistent organic pollutants’ (POPs) route of entry into the general population is almost exclusively from food, it was also hypothesized that the predominant route of human exposure to PBDEs would be through dietary intake (Bocio et al., 2003).

In 2000, we determined the concentrations of PBDEs in a number of food samples (11 food groups) acquired in Catalonia (Northeast Spain) (Bocio et al., 2003). The dietary intake of PBDEs was subsequently estimated for the general population living in that Spanish region. The most important contribution to the dietary PBDE intake corresponded to fish and seafood, being approximately one-third of the total (Bocio et al., 2003). However, in that study PBDE levels were only determined in fresh hake, sardine, mussel, and tinned fish (tuna, sardine), which was a limiting factor for establishing recommendations about human consumption (frequency and size of meals) of fish and other seafood. Taking this into account, our previous survey was recently extended in the number of analyzed edible marine species. The levels of PBDEs were measured in the 14 species of fish and seafood most consumed in Catalonia (Domingo et al., 2006).

In order to establish the temporal trend in the total dietary intake of PBDEs by the population of Catalonia, food items belonging to the remaining food groups assessed in our 2000 survey were analyzed. We here present the results of this new study concerning PBDE levels in a number of foodstuffs, as well as the human exposure through the diet of these pollutants. A comparison of the present data with recent results concerning the dietary intake of PBDEs in various countries is also presented.

Section snippets

Sampling

In March–June 2006, food samples were randomly purchased in local markets, big supermarkets, and grocery stores from twelve representative cities (Barcelona, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Mataró, Sabadell, Terrassa, Girona, Tarragona, Reus, Tortosa, Lleida and Manresa) of Catalonia. The selection of foodstuffs was based on data from Serra-Majem et al. (2003), who reported that these food items are widely consumed by the population of Catalonia. Previously to the current

Results

Table 1 summarizes the concentrations of PBDEs in all the analyzed foodstuffs. Results are presented as the sum of tetra- to octaBDEs, as well as the total sum of these groups of homologues. Recent data concerning PBDE levels in edible marine species (Domingo et al., 2006) are also included. In the samples of our previous survey (Bocio et al., 2003), the highest PBDE levels were found in oils and fats (588.7 ng/kg ww), fish and other seafood (383.9 ng/kg ww), and meat and meat products (109.2 

Discussion

Until recently, data concerning the dietary intake of PBDEs by the population of a certain region or country were very limited (Domingo, 2004). In studies performed in the UK and Canada, the intakes (median values) of PBDEs were 90.5 ng/day using duplicate diet samples (Wijesekera et al., 2002), and 44 ng/day (Ryan and Patry, 2001), respectively. However, in the Canadian study the number of foodstuffs included was limited to samples of animal origin only.

In 2000, we determined the concentrations

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Catalan Food Safety Agency, Department of Health, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.

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