Bioaccumulation and biotransformation of brominated flame retardants

In this chapter, we present evidence that the environmental behavior of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) is similar to the behavior of persistent organic pollutants: BFRs are persistent, bioaccumulate, and biomagnify in the aquatic and terrestrial food chains. Therefore, we systematically reviewed the literature on the bioaccumulation and biomagnification of BFRs. Both, classical BFRs, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers or hexabromocyclododecanes, and novel BFRs are included in this chapter. We have also reviewed the information on the degradation pathways of BFRs and their transformation products. Debromination of BFRs was the dominant degradation pathway in abiotic media (such as soil, sediment, dust, or solvent), while main degradation pathways of BFRs in biota include reductive debromination and phase I oxidative metabolism. The biotransformation of BFRs together with their bioaccumulation and biomagnification properties results in profiles of compounds in agreement with those in wildlife and humans.

ISBN:978-0-444-63299-9

Publication year:2015

Keywords:H2 Book chapter

Accessibility:Closed