Abstract  PCDD/Fs and PCBs have earlier been risk assessed and tolerable limit values were established by the Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) in 2001. The tolerable weekly intake (TWI) was set to 14 pg WHO-TEQ/kg bw. The last years estimated average dietary intake by the European population of PCDD/Fs and non-ortho PCBs is 1-3 pg TEQ/kg bw and day, which indicates that a large group of people exceeds the TWI. It has been estimated that about 1/10 of the general population, and in addition newborns and some fish consumers exceed the SCF TWI. United Kingdom followed up a risk assessment of the BDE-209 from 2002 and in May 2004 a final draft was published, but still the human health risk assessment part is missing. The Swedish Chemical Inspectorate has just finished their risk assessment of HBCDD as rapporteur to EU. The human health risk characterisation urged for more information before decisions regarding management can be made. Studies have shown that the placenta constitute an insufficient barrier for mother-foetus transfer of several POPs, such as PCB and PCB metabolites, PBDEs (including DecaBDE) and HBCDD. Exposure to POPs is above all an issue considering foetuses, infants and young children, which have a high exposure and are in a particular susceptible stage of life. Significant intake of brominated flame retardants via dust have been reported in toddlers, which means that the high exposure continues up to adulthood. It is not yet clear how this may affects the individual development. The objectives of this paper are to report a summary of present human exposure levels of a few POPs reported in Europe, and to put these levels into a risk assessment perspective. An attempt to assess risk to newborns is presented.

Abstract  Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) belongs to the c lass of cycloaliphatic brominated name retardants (BFRs) and is used primarily in the building industry as a thermal insulator additive in polystyrene foam. Secondary uses arc in upholstery textiles. HBCDD is synthesized industrially by the addition of bromine to cis-trans-trans-1,5,9-cyclododecatriene. The resulting technical mixture contains three diastereoisomers (a, p. y. Figure 1) existing in proportions of approximately 6. 8 and 80%, respectively. together with other lower brominated impurities. In 2001, the global market demand for HBCDD was 16700 tonnes. The demand for HBCDD is now second to the deca-BDEs. The physical chemical properties of HBCDD are similar to those of PBDEs and other persistent organic pollutants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are known to be persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic. This study examine the biomagnification of a and y- HBCDD congeners in a Lake Ontario food web. Samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/M).

Abstract  The bioconcentrations factors (BCF's) of various types of organic chemicals in several fish species reported by Veith and Kosian were utilized to verify the applicability of SIGMAi and SIGMAo to describe their bioconcentration potentials quantitatively. A good linear correlations between logBCF and SIGMAi and SIGMAo was established over the 107 chemicals by a multiple regression: logBCF = -0.00458 | (0.00089) s = 0.735). The results suggest that SIGMAi and SIGMAo can be a good predictor of bioconcentration of organic chemicals in fish and broaden its applicability in this particular field.

Abstract  Final report of a 90-day oral gavage toxicity study in rats (converted from 8EHQ-0102-15040A) / A 90-Day Oral (Gavage) Toxicity Study of HBCD in Rats

Abstract  Product information sheet, MSDS, and Toxicity Data Summaries: acute oral rats, acute dermal rabbits, primary skin irritation rabbits, eye irritation rabbits, acute inhalation rats, Ames test, acute fish toxicity test, pilot cataractogenic study in chicks, cataractogenic study in chicks, biodegradation, hydrolysis, partition coefficient, solubility,

Abstract  Notice of initiation of 28-day repeated dose oral toxicity study of HBCD in rats

Abstract  Notice of initiation of 7 studies on HBCD: acute fish test, acute daphnid test, algal toxicity test, analytical method verification for the determination of HBCD in well water, determination of water solubility, determination of n-octanol/water partition coefficient, evaluation of hydrolysis as a function of pH

Abstract  Notice of initiation of a flow-through life-cycle toxicity test with the Cladoceran (Daphnia magna)

Abstract  Notice of initiation of a maximization test in guinea pigs and chromosomal aberrations in human peripheral blood

Abstract  Introduction: Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) such as the high production volume chemicals polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclodecane (HBCDD) are lipophilic and persistent against degradation causing them to biomagnify in the marine food chains. Due to their semi-volatile properties long-range transport and bioaccumulation in food chains of pristine waters such as the high Arctic is anticipated. Reports indicate that bioaccumulation of other persistent organic pollutants are particularly high in the Svalbard area, presumably due to atmospheric and oceanic input of these contaminants (de March et al. 1998). The aim of the present study was to obtain data on bioaccumulation of BFRs in representative species from the Arctic marine food web at Svalbard, and to provide information on temporal and spatial variations of BFRs in North-Atlantic marine food chains.