Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDD), dechlorane-related compounds (DRCs), and emerging brominated flame retardants (EBFRs) in foods: The levels, profiles, and dietary intake in Latvia

Abstract

This study was performed to assess the Latvian population exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDD), dechlorane-related compounds (DRCs), and emerging brominated flame retardants (EBFRs). Food items including fish, fish products, meat, dairy products, cereals and bread, eggs, vegetable oils, and sweets were analyzed for the content of these contaminants, followed by per capita intake calculations and risk assessment. The highest dietary exposure for general population was observed in the case of HBCDD, .reaching an estimated daily intake (EDI) value of 2.92 ng kg^-1 b.w. (or 3.35 ng kg^-1 b.w. if an outlying data point is included), followed by PBDEs with EDI of 1.24 ng kg^-1 b.w., including ~25% contribution of PBDE-209 to the overall EDI from PBDEs. DRCs and EBFRs were secondary contributors to the total intake of selected flame retardants (FRs), with the observed EDIs of 0.46 and 0.47 ng kg^-1 b.w, respectively. The obtained occurrence data and risk characterization according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) approach showed the calculated margin of exposure (MOE) values higher than the critical values for PBDE-47, -99 and -153as well as for HBCDD, indicating that the estimated dietary exposures are unlikely to be of significant health concern for the Latvian population. At the same time, it should be pointed out that the risk assessment was performed only for five out of the twenty-five selected halogenated flame retardants (HFRs), while cumulative effects due to the potential presence of other HFRs and their biodegradation products were not considered.

Keywords: DRCs; EBFRs; Food; HBCDD; PBDEs; Risk assessment.