PBDE Levels in U.S. Food and Dietary Intake Estimates
Author Information
Author(s): Arnold Schecter, Olaf Päpke, Robert T. Harris, K.C. Tung, Alice Musumba, James Olson, Linda Birnbaum
Primary Institution: University of Texas School of Public Health at Southwestern Medical Center
Hypothesis
What are the levels of PBDE intake from food for the U.S. general population by sex and age?
Conclusion
Dietary exposure alone does not appear to account for the very high body burdens measured, suggesting that the indoor environment may also play a significant role.
Supporting Evidence
- PBDE levels in U.S. food are currently higher than previously reported in other countries.
- Fish are the highest source of PBDE contamination in the U.S. diet.
- Adult males have a higher dietary intake of PBDEs than adult females.
- Nursing infants have the highest estimated PBDE intake from food.
- PBDE contamination levels in food vary significantly even within the same food type.
Takeaway
This study looked at how much of a chemical called PBDE is in food and how much people eat based on their age and gender. It found that food isn't the only way people get this chemical; their homes might be a big source too.
Methodology
Food samples were purchased from supermarkets and analyzed for 13 PBDE congeners using gas chromatography-isotope dilution high resolution mass spectrometry.
Potential Biases
Potential mislabeling of food sources may affect the accuracy of PBDE levels reported.
Limitations
The sample size needs to be increased and should be representative of the U.S. diet for more accurate estimates.
Participant Demographics
The study estimated PBDE intake across various age groups from birth to over 60 years, including both males and females.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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