Levels of polybrominated diphenyl ether congeners in the serum of dogs as a potential indicator of environmental pollution and human exposure - Short communication

Abstract

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) have been used for the last 60 years, but their negative effects on animals and possibly humans has only been observed in the last 20 years, and they have been intensively studied since then. The widespread presence of flame retardant in the indoor environment make domestic pets, who share the human environment and even food, perfect indicators for biomonitoring studies. Among brominated flame retardants, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (BDE) have received the most attention. We measured the concentrations of some polybrominated diphenyl ether congeners (BDE 28, BDE 47, BDE 66, BDE 100, BDE 99, BDE 85, BDE 154, BDE 153 and BDE 183) in the serum of 20 obese and 20 normal house dogs. We found no statistical differences between the concentrations of any BDE congeners in either group of dogs. Total average values were 0.0190 ± 0.0302 ng/g and 0.0112 ± 0.0091 ng/g, respectively. BDE 47 and BDE 99 were predominant congeners in both groups of dogs. The correlation between serum concentrations of total BDE-s and thyroxine and thyroid-stimulating hormone concentrations were not significant.