PBDEs 9/18/04 Out of Harm’s Way: Protecting Children’s Health -- Science, Ethics and Policy A Small Dose of ™ PBDEs An Introduction to the Health Effects of PBDEs September 18, University of Washington Steven G. Gilbert, PhD, DABT

PBDEs 9/18/04 Infant & Child Health

PBDEs 9/18/04 “Children can develop and mature in an environment that allows them to reach and maintain their full potential.” Vision for Child Health

PBDEs 9/18/04 Recognition of Sensitivity of Children Knowledge of toxicology Policy Approach within an ethical framework Social responsibilities No technical solutions Restriction of freedoms Precautionary Principle Convergence of Issues

PBDEs 9/18/04 American Academy of Pediatrics Mission and vision To attain optimal physical, mental and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents and young adults.

PBDEs 9/18/04 American Academy of Pediatrics The AAP goes on to state: “To this purpose, the AAP and its members dedicate their efforts and resources. The vision: 1) to advocate for infants, children, adolescents, and young adults and provide for their care; 2) to collaborate with others to assure child health; and ….

PBDEs 9/18/04 Fetal Effects of MeHg

PBDEs 9/18/04 Lead In Homes

PBDEs 9/18/04 Lead in Families

PBDEs 9/18/04 FAS Child

PBDEs 9/18/04 Purpose of PBDEs  Fire kills more than 3,000/year  Injures more than 20,000  $11 billion in damage  Flame retardants  Used in many consumer products PolyBrominated Diphenyl Ether

PBDEs 9/18/04 Structure of PBDEs X & Y are number of Bromine atoms e.g. decaPBDE has 10 Bromines PolyBrominated Diphenyl Ether O Br x Br y

PBDEs 9/18/04 How much PBDEs are used? PBDEsAmericasEuropeAsia Deca Octa Penta Total – Millions of lbs used/year (2001) Total world-wide M lbs/yr Data from BSEF (2001)

PBDEs 9/18/04 PBDEs in Consumer Products Plastics - Deca, Octa, Penta Computers, televisions, hair dryers, curling irons, copy machines, fax machines, printers, coffee makers, plastic automotive parts, lighting panels, PVC wire and cables, electrical connectors, fuses, housings, boxes and switches, lamp sockets, waste- water pipes, underground junction boxes, circuit boards, smoke detectors Textiles - Deca, Penta Back coatings and impregnation of home and office furniture, industrial drapes, carpets, automotive seating, aircraft and train seating

PBDEs 9/18/04 PBDEs in Consumer Products Polyurethane foam - Penta Home and office furniture (couches and chairs, carpet padding, mattresses and mattress pads) automobile, bus, plane and train seating, sound insulation panels, imitation wood, packaging materials Rubber - Deca, Penta Conveyor belts, foamed pipes for insulation, rubber cables Paints and lacquers - Deca, Penta Marine and industry protective lacquers and paints

PBDEs 9/18/04  Sunlight / UV light breaks down PBDEs (encourages debromination)  Slower to break down in doors – increased in door exposure to deca  Debrominates to more toxic PBDEs Degradation of PBDEs

PBDEs 9/18/04  Atmospheric transport – found in artic sediment, mussels and animals  Remote Canadian lakes  Island in Baltic  Indoor dust Transport of PBDEs

PBDEs 9/18/04 PBDEs in House Dust (ppb) From EWG - Toxic Fire Retardants Contaminate American Homes -

PBDEs 9/18/04  Found in animals  Increase in fish  Increase in whales  Sewage sludge  PCBs Found in Lake Washington Fish (PBDEs next?)  Found in human (breast milk) Bioavailability of PBDEs

PBDEs 9/18/04 PBDEs Breast Milk - Sweden (Norén and Mieronyté, 1998)

PBDEs 9/18/04 PBDEs in Breast Milk (ppb) From EWG - Toxic Fire Retardants in Breast Milk from American Mothers -

PBDEs 9/18/04  Flame Retardants In Puget Sound Residents - A study of toxic body burdens  Joint study by Northwest Environmental Watch and Washington Toxics Coalition  What was found in women’s breast milk  9 samples – range 13 to 156 ppb PBDEs  Median 50 ppb (parts per billion)  Japan blood median 1.3 ppb  Swedish breast milk median 2.1 ppb WA State PBDEs Burdens

PBDEs 9/18/04 PBDEs In Milk Fat (adapted from Northwest Environmental Watch, 2004)

PBDEs 9/18/04  Texas 2002 – Breast milk from 47 mothers – median 34 ppb  Across U.S breast milk samples – median 58 ppb Additional Reports - PBDEs

PBDEs 9/18/04 Additional Reports - PBDEs (adapted from Northwest Environmental Watch, 2004)

PBDEs 9/18/04 Importance of Breast Feeding  Absolutely the best infant food  Despite the chemical found in breast milk, the benefits outweigh any risk  Reduces incidence of a number of diseases and infections  Formula milk may also have contaminants  Breast feeding good for mothers too

PBDEs 9/18/04  Similar to PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls)  PBT (Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxicant)  No human data  Animals studies indicate  Effects thyroid hormone levels  Neurobehavioral toxicity  Effects development - alters Behavior  Impairs memory and learning  Delays sexual development Health Effects of PBDEs

PBDEs 9/18/04  Health effects – deca-PBDE?  Animals studies – neurobehavioral, endocrine effects?  Human studies?  Metabolism – is deca-PBDE metabolized to more toxic metabolites? How fast? Persistent in body?  Break down – does deca-PBDE break down in the environment to penta or octa? Impact of UV light? Do we need to know more?

PBDEs 9/18/04  PBDEs migrate out of products  Found in the environment and animals  Found homes and mother’s breast milk  PCBs and PBDEs very similar  PBDEs have health effects at low doses  Deca-PBDE has effects (may be from metabolites)  Deca-does break down and is metabolized Therefore we need to adapt a precautionary approach What do we know?

PBDEs 9/18/04 Europe  Banned - Penta and octa-PBDE  Deca-PBDE used in electronics (greatest use of deca)  Deca will be banned by 2006 PBDEs – International Status

PBDEs 9/18/04 U.S. EPA and a U.S. chemical manufacturer, agreed to phase out Penta and Octa-PBDE by end of 2004 Deca-PBDE in consumer electronics (80% of the chemical's commercial use) – no agreement PBDEs – National Status

PBDEs 9/18/04  Legislation to ban - Penta and Octa-PBDE  Did not ban Deca-PBDE  Must report amount of electronic waste and toxic chemicals in waste such as PBDEs, metals PBDEs – California Status

PBDEs 9/18/04 Jan Governor Locke issued an Executive Order directing the Department of Ecology to develop a phase out plan March March 2004, the Washington State Legislature funded the development of a PBDE phase out plan Advisory panel formed PBDEs & WA State

PBDEs 9/18/04 Dept. of Ecology Draft Report  A complete ban on Penta and Octa-PBDE  A ban on Deca-PBDE in consumer electronics (80% of the chemical's commercial use).  Public hearing October 19th PBDEs & WA State - Status

PBDEs 9/18/04  Buy products with natural fibers (cotton and wool) that are naturally fire resistant.  Choice materials that do not have or need flame-retardants (IKEA uses no PBDEs)  Manufactures are redesigning products  Research for new flame-retardants Alternatives

PBDEs 9/18/04 “The Commons” The Tragedy of the Commons By Garrett Hardin, Science, 1968

PBDEs 9/18/04 Technical Solutions “It is our considered professional judgment that this dilemma has no technical solution.” The Tragedy of the Commons By Garrett Hardin, Science, 1968

PBDEs 9/18/04 Problems – Solutions?  Lead and kids  Fetal alcohol syndrome  Nuclear disarmament  Bioterrorism  Ocean Fisheries  Persistent chemicals  PBDEs in breast milk  The Commons

PBDEs 9/18/04 “When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be take even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically.” Wingspread Conference, Precautionary Principle

PBDEs 9/18/04  FDA regulations of Drugs (1938)  FDA regulations of Dietary Supplements (Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA))  Ephedra present an unreasonable risk of illness or injury (Dec, 2003) Safety & Efficacy vs Harm

PBDEs 9/18/04 Taking preventive action in the face of uncertainty Shifting the burden of responsibility to the proponents of an activity Exploring a wide range of alternatives to possibly harmful actions Increasing public participation in decision making Wingspread Conference, Central components

PBDEs 9/18/04 Changes in purchase policy to less toxic cleaners & paints Integrated pest management Banning chemicals in consumer products Approach to decision making Examples of Precautionary Approach

PBDEs 9/18/04 Children have a right to a safe, fair, and healthy environment Ethical Responsibility to share and use of knowledge Duty to promote health and well being of children Thoughtful public health advocate Advocate for Public Health

PBDEs 9/18/04 Testifying Writing review papers K-12 class room teaching Adding expertise to community groups Education Mentoring Speakers Bureau Socially Responsible Actions

PBDEs 9/18/04 The Potential of Children

PBDEs 9/18/04 ELSI of Neurotoxicology and Kids Questions or Comments?

PBDEs 9/18/04 Additional Information  Flame Retardants In Puget Sound Residents - A study of toxic body burdens (  Washington Toxics Coalition (  Washington State – Department of Ecology – (  Birnbaum, L. S., & Staskal, D. F. (2004). Brominated flame retardants: cause for concern? Environ Health Perspect, 112(1), (available on line at  Hooper, K., & McDonald, T. A. (2000). The PBDEs: an emerging environmental challenge and another reason for breast-milk monitoring programs. Environ Health Perspect, 108(5), (available on line at

PBDEs 9/18/04 Contact Information Steven G. Gilbert, PhD, DABT Director, INND (slides are available at this web site)