Absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of intravenously and orally administered tetrabromobisphenol A [2,3-dibromopropyl ether] in male Fischer-344 rats

Tetrabromobisphenol A bis[2,3-dibromopropyl ether],2,2-bis[3,5-dibromo-4-(2,3-dibromopropoxy)phenyl]propane is a brominated flame retardant with substantial U.S. production. Due to the likelihood of human exposure to TBBPA-DBPE and its probable metabolites, studies regarding the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion were conducted. Male Fischer-344 rats were dosed with TBBPA-DBPE (20 mg/kg) by oral gavage or IV administration. Following a single oral administration of TBBPA-DBPE, elimination of [14C] equivalents in the feces was extensive and rapid (95% of dose by 36 h). Following repeated daily oral doses for 5 or 10 days, route and rate of elimination was similar to single administrations of TBBPA-DBPE. After IV administration, fecal excretion of [14C] equivalents was much slower (27% of dose eliminated by 36 h, 71% by 96 h). Urinary elimination was minimal (<0.1%) following oral or IV administration. A single peak that co-eluted with the standard of TBBPA-DBPE was detected in extracts of whole blood following oral or IV administration. TBBPA-DBPE elimination from the blood was slow. Kinetic constants following IV dosing were—t1/2β: 24.8 h; CLb: 0.1 mL min−1. Kinetic constants following oral dosing were: t1/2α: 2.5 h; t1/2β: 13.9 h; CLb: 4.6 mL min−1. Systemic bioavailability was 2.2%. Liver was the major site of disposition following oral or IV administration. After oral administration, 1% of the dose was eliminated in bile in 24 h (as metabolites). In in vitro experiments utilizing hepatocytes or liver microsomal protein, no detectable metabolism of TBBPA-DBPE occurred. These data indicate that TBBPA-DBPE is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Compound which is absorbed is sequestered in the liver, slowly metabolized, and eliminated in the feces.