An Introduction to the Health Effects of PBDEs April 22, 2017 A Small Dose of ™ PBDEs An Introduction to the Health Effects of PBDEs Steven G. Gilbert, PhD, DABT www.asmalldoseof.org ELSI - 2/10/04

Infant & Child Health

Vision for Child Health April 22, 2017 Vision for Child Health “Children can develop and mature in an environment that allows them to reach and maintain their full potential.” ELSI - 2/10/04

Convergence of Issues Recognition of Sensitivity of Children April 22, 2017 Convergence of Issues Recognition of Sensitivity of Children Knowledge of toxicology Policy Approach within an ethical framework Social responsibilities No technical solutions Restriction of freedoms Precautionary Principle Hong Kong -- ELSI - 2/10/04

American Academy of Pediatrics April 22, 2017 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. Hong Kong -- http://www.aap.org/member/memcore.htm ELSI - 2/10/04

American Academy of Pediatrics April 22, 2017 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 …. Hong Kong -- http://www.aap.org/member/memcore.htm ELSI - 2/10/04

Fetal Effects of MeHg

Lead In Homes

Lead in Families

FAS Child

Purpose of PBDEs PolyBrominated Diphenyl Ether April 22, 2017 Purpose of PBDEs PolyBrominated Diphenyl Ether Fire kills more than 3,000/year Injures more than 20,000 $11 billion in damage Flame retardants Used in many consumer products Hong Kong -- ELSI - 2/10/04

Bry Brx Structure of PBDEs PolyBrominated Diphenyl Ether April 22, 2017 Structure of PBDEs PolyBrominated Diphenyl Ether O Brx Bry Hong Kong -- X & Y are number of Bromine atoms e.g. decaPBDE has 10 Bromines ELSI - 2/10/04

How much PBDEs are used? Millions of lbs used/year (2001) April 22, 2017 How much PBDEs are used? Millions of lbs used/year (2001) PBDEs Americas Europe Asia Deca- 53.9 16.7 50.6 Octa- 3.3 1.3 Penta- 15.6 0.33 Total – 72.8 18.4 54.2 Total world-wide 148.3 M lbs/yr Data from BSEF (2001) ELSI - 2/10/04

PBDEs in Consumer Products April 22, 2017 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 Hong Kong -- ELSI - 2/10/04

PBDEs in Consumer Products April 22, 2017 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 Hong Kong -- ELSI - 2/10/04

April 22, 2017 Degradation of PBDEs 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 ELSI - 2/10/04

April 22, 2017 Transport of PBDEs Atmospheric transport – found in artic sediment, mussels and animals Remote Canadian lakes Island in Baltic Indoor dust ELSI - 2/10/04

PBDEs in House Dust (ppb) April 22, 2017 PBDEs in House Dust (ppb) Hong Kong -- From EWG - Toxic Fire Retardants Contaminate American Homes - http://www.ewg.org/reports/inthedust/summary.php ELSI - 2/10/04

Bioavailability of PBDEs April 22, 2017 Bioavailability of PBDEs Found in animals Increase in fish Increase in whales Sewage sludge PCBs Found in Lake Washington Fish (PBDEs next?) Found in human (breast milk) ELSI - 2/10/04

PBDEs Breast Milk - Sweden April 22, 2017 PBDEs Breast Milk - Sweden Hong Kong -- (Norén and Mieronyté, 1998) ELSI - 2/10/04

PBDEs in Breast Milk (ppb) April 22, 2017 PBDEs in Breast Milk (ppb) Hong Kong -- From EWG - Toxic Fire Retardants in Breast Milk from American Mothers - http://www.ewg.org/reports/mothersmilk/es.php ELSI - 2/10/04

April 22, 2017 WA State PBDEs Burdens 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 ELSI - 2/10/04

PBDEs In Milk Fat (adapted from Northwest Environmental Watch, 2004) April 22, 2017 PBDEs In Milk Fat (adapted from Northwest Environmental Watch, 2004) ELSI - 2/10/04

Additional Reports - PBDEs April 22, 2017 Additional Reports - PBDEs Texas 2002 – Breast milk from 47 mothers – median 34 ppb Across U.S. - 20 breast milk samples – median 58 ppb ELSI - 2/10/04

Additional Reports - PBDEs April 22, 2017 Additional Reports - PBDEs (adapted from Northwest Environmental Watch, 2004) ELSI - 2/10/04

Importance of Breast Feeding April 22, 2017 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 ELSI - 2/10/04

Health Effects of PBDEs April 22, 2017 Health Effects of PBDEs 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 ELSI - 2/10/04

Do we need to know more? Health effects – deca-PBDE? April 22, 2017 Do we need to know more? 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? ELSI - 2/10/04

Therefore we need to adapt a precautionary approach April 22, 2017 What do we know? 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 ELSI - 2/10/04

PBDEs – International Status April 22, 2017 PBDEs – International Status Europe Banned - Penta and octa-PBDE Deca-PBDE used in electronics (greatest use of deca) Deca will be banned by 2006 ELSI - 2/10/04

PBDEs – National Status April 22, 2017 PBDEs – National Status 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 ELSI - 2/10/04

PBDEs – California Status April 22, 2017 PBDEs – California Status 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 ELSI - 2/10/04

April 22, 2017 PBDEs & WA State Jan 2004 - Governor Locke issued an Executive Order directing the Department of Ecology to develop a phase out plan March 2004 - March 2004, the Washington State Legislature funded the development of a PBDE phase out plan Advisory panel formed ELSI - 2/10/04

PBDEs & WA State - Status April 22, 2017 PBDEs & WA State - Status 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 http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/pbt/pbde/index.html ELSI - 2/10/04

April 22, 2017 Alternatives 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 ELSI - 2/10/04

“The Commons” The Tragedy of the Commons April 22, 2017 “The Commons” The Tragedy of the Commons By Garrett Hardin, Science, 1968 ELSI - 2/10/04

The Tragedy of the Commons By Garrett Hardin, Science, 1968 April 22, 2017 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 ELSI - 2/10/04

Problems – Solutions? Lead and kids Fetal alcohol syndrome April 22, 2017 Problems – Solutions? Lead and kids Fetal alcohol syndrome Nuclear disarmament Bioterrorism Ocean Fisheries Persistent chemicals PBDEs in breast milk The Commons Another point that Hardin made was that many problems do not have a technical solution – these can range from Tick-tack-toe to disarmament to managing fish stocks and to many of the issues that our panelist will briefly discuss. ELSI - 2/10/04

Precautionary Principle April 22, 2017 Precautionary Principle “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, 1998. ELSI - 2/10/04

Safety & Efficacy vs Harm April 22, 2017 Safety & Efficacy vs Harm 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) ELSI - 2/10/04

Wingspread Conference, 1998. April 22, 2017 Central components 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, 1998. ELSI - 2/10/04

Examples of Precautionary Approach April 22, 2017 Examples of Precautionary Approach Changes in purchase policy to less toxic cleaners & paints Integrated pest management Banning chemicals in consumer products Approach to decision making ELSI - 2/10/04

Advocate for Public Health April 22, 2017 Advocate for Public Health 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 ELSI - 2/10/04

Socially Responsible Actions April 22, 2017 Socially Responsible Actions Testifying Writing review papers K-12 class room teaching Adding expertise to community groups Education Mentoring Speakers Bureau ELSI - 2/10/04

The Potential of Children April 22, 2017 The Potential of Children ELSI - 2/10/04

April 22, 2017 A Small Dose of ™ PBDEs ELSI - 2/10/04

Additional Information April 22, 2017 Additional Information Flame Retardants In Puget Sound Residents - A study of toxic body burdens (http://www.northwestwatch.org/pollution/) Washington Toxics Coalition (www.watoxics.org) Washington State – Department of Ecology – (http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/pbt/pbde/index.html) Birnbaum, L. S., & Staskal, D. F. (2004). Brominated flame retardants: cause for concern? Environ Health Perspect, 112(1), 9-17. (available on line at www.ehponline.org) 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), 387-392. (available on line at www.ehponline.org) ELSI - 2/10/04

April 22, 2017 Contact Information This presentation is supplement to “A Small Dose of Toxicology” For Additional Information Contact Steven G. Gilbert, PhD, DABT E-mail: smdose@asmalldoseof.org Web: www.asmalldoseof.org ELSI - 2/10/04