Policy relevant results from an expert elicitation on the human health risks of decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)

Abstract

Aim: Apply a recently developed expert elicitation procedure to evaluate the state of the current knowledge of the two brominated flame retardants (BFRs) most commonly used today; decabromo-diphenyl ether (decaBDE) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and their potential impact on human health in order to support policy considerations. This expert elicitation was organized by the HENVINET (Health and Environment Network) Consortium.

Method: The HENVINET expert elicitation procedure that was used in the evaluations of decaBDE and HBCD is a rapid assessment tool aimed at highlighting areas of agreement and areas of disagreement on knowledge-related key issues for environment and health policy decision making.

Results: The outcome of the expert consultation on BFRs was concrete expert advice for policy makers with specific priorities for further action made clear for both stakeholders and policy makers. The experts were not in agreement whether or not the knowledge currently available on decaBDE or HBCD is sufficient to justify policy actions, but most experts considered that enough data already exists to support a ban or restriction on the use of these compounds. All experts agreed on the necessity of more research on the compounds. Priority issues for further research were, among others:• more studies on the extent of human exposure to the compounds.• more studies on the fate and concentration in the human body of the compounds.

Figure 1

Cause-effect diagram of decaBDE and HBCD. The diagram illustrates the scientists current understanding of the cause-relationship between the production and use of decaBDE and HBCD and their potential impact on health, based on existing reviews and recent publications from 2007-2009.

Figure 2

Consensus scores and average confidence scores for each question from the first decaBDE questionnaire. The average confidence scores are calculated assigning the answer categories ordinal values (VH=5, H=4, M=3, L=2, VL=1). The question belonging to the same diagram element box are indicated by the same symbol. EM=Environmental Matrix, EX=Exposure, SO=Source, TK=Toxicokinetics, TX=Toxicity).

Figure 3

Consensus scores and average confidence scores for each question from the first HBCD questionnaire The average confidence scores were calculated assigning the answer categories ordinal values (VH=5, H=4, M=3, L=2, VL=1). The question belonging to the same diagram element box are indicated by the same symbol. EM=Environmental Matrix, EX=Exposure, SO=Source, TK=Toxicokinetics, TX=Toxicity).