Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs)
Diagnostics and Chemical Markers of Exposure
The Organic Analytical Toxicology Branch develops and performs unique laboratory tests to measure organic environmental chemicals in people. Examples of available laboratory tests are shown in the table above. It lists the most common names for these chemicals, and their Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Numbers. Many of the chemicals, however, go by alternative names. Please visit the National Library of Medicine ChemID database websiteexternal icon and enter the chemical’s CAS Number. The page displayed after this search will include the chemical’s structure, and alternative names.
Laboratory Methods Panels
CDC’s laboratory methods are intended to evaluate population exposures and to support states in situations considered a public health concern. Please see the “Methods’ Access” tab in the tables found after clicking on each of the listed chemicals for additional information regarding these methods. Currently, CDC’s Organic Analytical Toxicology Branch does not have the capability of generating pilot or preliminary results in support of proposals to obtain public or private funds for a larger project.
| Chemical | Specimen Type |
|---|---|
| Brominated biphenyl-153 | serum or plasma |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ether-17 | serum or plasma |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ether-28 | serum or plasma |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ether-47 | serum or plasma |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ether-66 | serum or plasma |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ether-85 | serum or plasma |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ether-99 | serum or plasma |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ether-100 | serum or plasma |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ether-153 | serum or plasma |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ether-154 | serum or plasma |
Laboratory Method: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/nhanes_03_04/l28pbe_c_met.pdfpdf icon
Toddler’s behavior and its impacts on exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers
Hoffman K, Webster TF, Sjödin A, Stapleton HM. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2017 Mar;27(2):193-197. doi: 10.1038/jes.2016.11.
http://www.nature.com/jes/journal/v27/n2/pdf/jes201611a.pdfpdf iconexternal icon
Lactational Exposure to Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers and Its Relation to Early Childhood Anthropometric Measurements
Hoffman K, Mendez M, Siega-Riz AM, Herring AH, Sjödin A, Daniels JL. Environ Health Perspect. 2016 Oct;124(10):1656-1661.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5047775/pdf/EHP201.pdfpdf iconexternal icon
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers and Thyroid Cancer Risk in the Prostate, Colorectal, Lung, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial Cohort
Aschebrook-Kilfoy B, DellaValle CT, Purdue M, Kim C, Zhang Y, Sjodin A, Ward MH. Am J Epidemiol. 2015 Jun 1;181(11):883-8. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwu358. Epub 2015 May 4.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4445391/pdf/kwu358.pdfpdf iconexternal icon
Brominated Flame Retardants and Other Persistent Organohalogenated Compounds in Relation to Timing of Puberty in a Longitudinal Study of Girls
Windham GC, Pinney SM, Voss RW, Sjodin A, Biro FM, Greenspan LC, Stewart S, Hiatt RA, Kushi LH. Environ Health Perspect. Sep;123(10):1046-1052. Epub 2015 May 8.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4590751/pdf/ehp.1408778.pdfpdf iconexternal icon
Prenatal Exposure to Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers and Polyfluoroalkyl Chemicals and Infant Neurobehavior
Donauer S, Chen A, Xu Y, Calafat AM, Sjodin A, Yolton K. J Pediatr. 2015 Mar;166(3):736-42.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022347614010737external icon
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls, and persistent pesticides in serum from the national health and nutrition examination survey: 2003-2008
Sjödin A, Jones RS, Caudill SP, Wong LY, Turner WE, Calafat AM. Environ Sci Technol. 2014 Jan 7;48(1):753-60. doi: 10.1021/es4037836.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4755520/external icon
Brominated flame retardants in breast milk and behavioural and cognitive development at 36 months
Adgent MA, Hoffman K, Goldman BD, Sjödin A, Daniels JL. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2014 Jan;28(1):48-57. doi: 10.1111/ppe.12078.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3997742/pdf/nihms509653.pdfpdf iconexternal icon
Biomonitoring Factsheet: Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) and Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBBs)
National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals
CDC’s laboratory methods are intended to evaluate population exposures and to support states in situations considered a public health concern. CDC does not provide individual health care or assessment unless as part of a broader public health investigation requested by federal or state agencies, such as a health department. Currently, CDC’s Organic Analytical Toxicology Branch does not have the capability of generating pilot or preliminary results in support of proposals to obtain public or private funds for a larger project.
Detecting levels of an environmental chemical in a person’s blood or urine does not necessarily mean the chemical will cause adverse health effects or disease. Advances in analytical methods enable CDC to measure very low levels of environmental chemicals in people, but research studies of varying levels of exposure are needed to determine if specific levels cause health effects. Consulting a clinician with a toxicological background to assist with the interpretation of results is recommended.
Samples to be tested should be processed through a state health department laboratory, and should conform to the laboratory’s reporting procedures. These laboratory methods often require that the sample be collected by a particular method, or sometimes with particular pre-screened collection devices, to minimize external contamination. Following the correct sample collection protocol is necessary for accurate sample measurement. Please contact the laboratory that will be analyzing the sample to learn the sample collection instructions before collecting the samples.
Contact DLSLab@cdc.gov for more information or questions about these laboratory methods.