Phasing Out Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers PBDEs and PBTs

Phasing Out Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) and PBTs “Out of Harm’s Way: Preventing Toxic Threats to our Children’s Health” October 15, 2005 Spokane, WA Steven G. Gilbert, Ph. D, DABT www. asmalldoseof. org A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

Infant & Child Health A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

Vision for Child Health “Children can develop and mature in an environment that allows them to reach and maintain their full potential. ” A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

Purpose of PBDEs Poly. Brominated Diphenyl Ether Ø Ø Ø Fire kills more than 3, 000/year Injures more than 20, 000 $11 billion in damage Flame retardants Used in many consumer products A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

Structure of PBDEs Poly. Brominated Diphenyl Ether O Brx Bry X & Y are number of Bromine atoms e. g. deca. PBDE has 10 Bromines A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

How much PBDEs are used? Millions of lbs used/year (2001) PBDEs Americas Europe Asia Deca- 53. 9 16. 7 50. 6 Octa- 3. 3 1. 3 3. 3 Penta- 15. 6 0. 33 Total – 72. 8 18. 4 54. 2 Total world-wide 148. 3 M lbs/yr Data from BSEF (2001) A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

PBDEs in Consumer Products Plastics - Deca, Octa, Penta Computers, televisions, hair dryers, curling irons, copy machines, fax machines, printers, coffee makers, plastic automotive parts, lighting panels, PVC wire and cables, electrical connectors, fuses, housings, boxes and switches, lamp sockets, wastewater pipes, underground junction boxes, circuit boards, smoke detectors Textiles - Deca, Penta Back coatings and impregnation of home and office furniture, industrial drapes, carpets, automotive seating, aircraft and train seating A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

PBDEs in Consumer Products Polyurethane foam - Penta Home and office furniture (couches and chairs, carpet padding, mattresses and mattress pads) automobile, bus, plane and train seating, sound insulation panels, imitation wood, packaging materials Rubber - Deca, Penta Conveyor belts, foamed pipes for insulation, rubber cables Paints and lacquers - Deca, Penta Marine and industry protective lacquers and paints A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

Degradation of PBDEs Ø Sunlight / UV light breaks down PBDEs (encourages debromination) Ø Slower to break down in doors – increased in door exposure to deca Ø Debrominates to more toxic PBDEs A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

Transport of PBDEs ØAtmospheric transport – found in artic sediment, mussels and animals ØRemote Canadian lakes ØIsland in Baltic ØIndoor dust A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

PBDEs in House Dust (ppb) From EWG - Toxic Fire Retardants Contaminate American Homes - http: //www. ewg. org/reports/inthedust/summary. php A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

Bioavailability of PBDEs ØFound in animals ØIncrease in fish ØIncrease in whales ØSewage sludge ØPCBs Found in Lake Washington Fish (PBDEs next? ) ØFound in human (breast milk) A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

PBDEs Breast Milk - Sweden (Norén and Mieronyté, 1998) A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

PBDEs in Breast Milk (ppb) From EWG - Toxic Fire Retardants in Breast Milk from American Mothers - http: //www. ewg. org/reports/mothersmilk/es. php A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

WA State PBDEs Burdens Ø Flame Retardants In Puget Sound Residents - A study of toxic body burdens Ø Joint study by Northwest Environmental Watch and Washington Toxics Coalition Ø What was found in women’s breast milk Ø 9 samples – range 13 to 156 ppb PBDEs Ø Median 50 ppb (parts per billion) Ø Japan blood median 1. 3 ppb Ø Swedish breast milk median 2. 1 ppb A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

PBDEs In Milk Fat (adapted from Northwest Environmental Watch, 2004) A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

Additional Reports - PBDEs Ø Texas 2002 – Breast milk from 47 mothers – median 34 ppb Ø Across U. S. - 20 breast milk samples – median 58 ppb A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

Additional Reports - PBDEs (adapted from Northwest Environmental Watch, 2004) A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

Importance of Breast Feeding Ø Absolutely the best infant food Ø Despite the chemical found in breast milk, the benefits outweigh any risk Ø Reduces incidence of a number of diseases and infections Ø Formula milk may also have contaminants Ø Breast feeding good for mothers too A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

Health Effects of PBDEs Ø Similar to PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls) Ø PBT (Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxicant) Ø No human data Ø Animals studies indicate ØEffects thyroid hormone levels ØNeurobehavioral toxicity ØEffects development - alters Behavior ØImpairs memory and learning ØDelays sexual development A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

Do we need to know more? Ø Health effects – deca-PBDE? ØAnimals studies – neurobehavioral, endocrine effects? ØHuman studies? Ø Metabolism – is deca-PBDE metabolized to more toxic metabolites? How fast? Persistent in body? Ø Break down – does deca-PBDE break down in the environment to penta or octa? Impact of UV light? A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

What do we know? ØPBDEs migrate out of products ØFound in the environment and animals ØFound homes and mother’s breast milk ØPCBs and PBDEs very similar ØPBDEs have health effects at low doses ØDeca-PBDE has effects (may be from metabolites) ØDeca-does break down and is metabolized Therefore we need to adapt a precautionary approach A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

PBDEs – International Status Europe Ø Banned - Penta and octa-PBDE Ø Deca-PBDE used in electronics (greatest use of deca) Ø Deca will be banned by 2006 A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

PBDEs – National Status U. S. EPA and a U. S. chemical manufacturer, agreed to phase out Penta and Octa-PBDE by end of 2004 Deca-PBDE in consumer electronics (80% of the chemical's commercial use) – no agreement A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

PBDEs – California Status ØLegislation to ban - Penta and Octa -PBDE ØDid not ban Deca-PBDE ØMust report amount of electronic waste and toxic chemicals in waste such as PBDEs, metals A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

PBDEs & WA State Jan 2004 - Governor Locke issued an Executive Order directing the Department of Ecology to develop a phase out plan March 2004 - March 2004, the Washington State Legislature funded the development of a PBDE phase out plan Advisory panel formed A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

PBDEs & WA State - Status Dept. of Ecology Draft Report Ø A complete ban on Penta and Octa -PBDE Ø A ban on Deca-PBDE in consumer electronics (80% of the chemical's commercial use). Ø Public hearing October 19 th http: //www. ecy. wa. gov/programs/eap/pbt/pbde/index. html A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

Alternatives Ø Buy products with natural fibers (cotton and wool) that are naturally fire resistant. Ø Choice materials that do not have or need flame-retardants (IKEA uses no PBDEs) Ø Manufactures are redesigning products Ø Research for new flame-retardants A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

Precautionary Principle “When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be take even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. ” Wingspread Conference, 1998. A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

Safety & Efficacy vs Harm Ø FDA regulations of Drugs (1938) Ø FDA regulations of Dietary Supplements (Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA)) Ø Ephedra present an unreasonable risk of illness or injury (Dec, 2003) A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

Central components • Taking preventive action in the face of uncertainty • Shifting the burden of responsibility to the proponents of an activity • Exploring a wide range of alternatives to possibly harmful actions • Increasing public participation in decision making Wingspread Conference, 1998. A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

Examples of Precautionary Approach • Changes in purchase policy to less toxic cleaners & paints • Integrated pest management • Banning chemicals in consumer products • Approach to decision making A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

The Potential of Children A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

A Small Dose of ™ PBDEs A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

Additional Information Ø Flame Retardants In Puget Sound Residents - A study of toxic body burdens (http: //www. northwestwatch. org/pollution/) Ø Washington Toxics Coalition (www. watoxics. org) Ø Washington State – Department of Ecology – (http: //www. ecy. wa. gov/programs/eap/pbt/pbde/index. html) Ø Birnbaum, L. S. , & Staskal, D. F. (2004). Brominated flame retardants: cause for concern? Environ Health Perspect, 112(1), 9 -17. (available on line at www. ehponline. org) Ø Hooper, K. , & Mc. Donald, T. A. (2000). The PBDEs: an emerging environmental challenge and another reason for breast-milk monitoring programs. Environ Health Perspect, 108(5), 387 -392. (available on line at www. ehponline. org) A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

A Small Dose of Toxicology See: www. asmalldoseof. org -- smdose A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05

Contact Information This presentation is supplement to “A Small Dose of Toxicology” For Additional Information Contact Steven G. Gilbert, Ph. D, DABT E-mail: smdose@asmalldoseof. org Web: www. asmalldoseof. org A Small Dose of Toxicology A Small Dose of PBDEs 10/15/05