Longitudinal biomonitoring for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in residents of the Great Lakes basin

Cross-sectional surveys of human blood and breast milk show increasing concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) that parallel the expanded use in consumer products, but longitudinal studies are lacking. We compared levels of major BDE congeners in archived 1994–1995 blood samples collected from a cohort of frequent and infrequent Great Lakes fish consumers with levels in the blood collected from the same individuals in 2001–2003 and 2004–2005. In mixed linear regression models controlling for multiple measurements per individual and covariates, statistically significant increases were seen from 1994–1995 to 2001–2003 for ∑PBDEs and BDE-47, 99, and 153 and from 1994–1995 to 2004–2005 for ∑PBDEs and BDE-99, 100, and 153, but ∑PBDEs and BDE congeners did not change significantly between 2001–2003 and 2004–2005. Changes in body burdens of ∑PBDEs and BDE-47, 100, and 153 in men were modified by BMI, with greater increases in men with higher BMI. Increases in BDE-153 were greater for women than men, and a greater increase in BDE-100 was found in older participants. There was a shift in the congener distribution with a significant increase in the proportion of BDE-153 relative to BDE-47 from 2001–2003 to 2004–2005.