Bioaccumulation of Brominated Flame Retardants

Abstract

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) account for the second largest market group of flame retardants currently in use. Since their detection in wildlife samples collected far from local sources, environmental concern about the use of BFRs has grown. Further research in biotic and abiotic matrices revealed the bioavailability of these chemicals in the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Together with their persistency and potential long-range transport, bioaccumulation in wildlife and the potential for trophic magnification indicate serious risks for many organisms. In addition to the polybrominated diphenylethers, hexabromocyclododecane and tetrabromobisphenol A, other BFRs have entered the market in recent years. Not all BFRs show similar behaviour. Their structure and properties, and the metabolic processes taking place within the exposed organisms, are of great importance in determining their bioaccumulation profile.