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. 2010 Jul 15;44(14):5627-32.
doi: 10.1021/es100697q.

Relationships between polybrominated diphenyl ether concentrations in house dust and serum

Paula I Johnson  1 , Heather M Stapleton, Andreas Sjodin, John D Meeker
Affiliations

Relationships between polybrominated diphenyl ether concentrations in house dust and serum

Paula I Johnson et al. Environ Sci Technol. .

Abstract

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been measured in the home environment and in humans, but studies linking environmental levels to body burdens are limited. This study examines the relationship between PBDE concentrations in house dust and serum from adults residing in these homes. We measured PBDE concentrations in house dust from 50 homes and in serum of male-female couples from 12 of the homes. Detection rates, dust-serum, and within-matrix correlations varied by PBDE congener. There was a strong correlation (r = 0.65-0.89, p < 0.05) between dust and serum concentrations of several predominant PBDE congeners (BDE 47, 99, and 100). Dust and serum levels of BDE 153 were not correlated (r < 0.01). The correlation of dust and serum levels of BDE 209 could not be evaluated due to low detection rates of BDE 209 in serum. Serum concentrations of the sum of BDE 47, 99, and 100 were also strongly correlated within couples (r = 0.85, p = 0.0005). This study provides evidence that house dust is a primary exposure pathway of PBDEs and supports the use of dust PBDE concentrations as a marker for exposure to PBDE congeners other than BDE 153.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. PBDE Congener by proportion in dust and serum
Dust: n = 50, except those congeners with <100% detection (some of "other tri-nona congeners"). See Table 1 for detection rates. Serum: n = 24, except those congeners with <100% detection (BDE 28, 99, 154, 209 and "other tri-nona congeners"). See Table 2 for detection rates. Other tri-hexa and hepta-nona congeners are those listed in Tables 1 and 2. BDE 206 and 207 were not measured in serum.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Within-couple serum PBDE correlation (sum of BDE 47, 99, 100)
Values in graph are transformed to the natural log. Spearman correlation coefficient, n = 12 couples.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Fluid assets and liabilities.
    Gentleman DJ. Gentleman DJ. Environ Sci Technol. 2010 Jul 15;44(14):5319. doi: 10.1021/es1020179. Environ Sci Technol. 2010. PMID: 20707010 No abstract available.

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