Serum PBDEs exposure and influence factors in blood donors of Wuxi adults from 2013 to 2016

Abstract

Abstract Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been used as brominated flame retardants worldwide and are correlated with extensive environmental pollution and human health concerns. This study aims to analyze the concentrations of PBDEs and to evaluate their temporal trends among a population of blood donors over a four-year period. Nine PBDE congeners were quantified in serum samples by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC‒MS). The median concentrations of Σ9PBDEs in each year were 33.46, 29.75, 30.85 and 35.02 ng/g lipid, respectively. Most of the PBDE congeners showed a downward trend from 2013 to 2014 and then increased after 2014. No correlations between age and PBDE congener concentrations were observed, while concentrations of each congener and Σ9PBDE were nearly always lower in females than in males, especially in BDE-66, BDE-153, BDE-183, BDE-190 and Σ9PBDE. We also found that the intake of fish, fruit and eggs in the daily diet was related to the exposure level of PBDEs. Our results suggest that, as deca-BDE is still produced and used in China, diet is an important exposure pathway for PBDEs, and follow-up studies will be required to improve our understanding of the behaviors of PBDE isomers in humans and the exposure levels.