Hydroxylated and methoxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers in blood plasma of humans in Hong Kong

Hydroxylated (OH-) and methoxylated (MeO-) polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) are suspected endocrine disruptors. Little is known about the accumulation or sources of these chemicals in tissues of humans, particularly those residing in Hong Kong, which is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Seven MeO-BDEs, fifteen OH-BDEs and three bromophenols (BRPs) were analyzed in blood plasma of 116 humans that had been collected by the Hong Kong Red Cross. Total concentrations of MeO-BDEs, OH-BDEs and BRPs ranged from 3.8 × 102 to 52 × 103 pg g− 1 lipid (median 4.5 × 103 pg g− 1), 5.3 to 4.9 × 102 pg g− 1 lipid (81 pg g− 1) and ND to 1.1 × 102 pg g− 1 lipid (3.7 pg g− 1), respectively. 3-MeO-BDE-47, 6-OH-BDE-47 and 2, 4, 5-TBP were the predominant MeO-BDEs, OH-BDEs and BRPs, respectively. These results are consistent with accumulation of MeO-BDEs, OH-BDEs and BRPs in human plasma being primarily from natural products and inter-conversion of natural products. Coefficients of determination for some pairs of congeners such as 3-OH-BDE-100 and 6-OH-BDE-47, 6-OH-BDE-85 and 5′-OH-BDE-99, and 2, 4-DBP and 6-OH-BDE-85, were near 1.0, which is consistent with them having common sources. Patterns of relative concentrations of the target analytes were similar in the diet, particularly fish, as in blood plasma of humans, which suggests that the diet and particularly seafood might be a source of these compounds and PBDEs. Furthermore, biotransformation of natural chemicals such as OH-BDEs to BRPs might be the primary route of their elimination from humans.

► 7 MeO-BDEs, 15 OH-BDEs and 3 bromophenols were analyzed in 116 plasma samples.
► 3-MeO-BDE-47, 6-OH-BDE-47 and 2, 4, 5-TBP were their corresponding predominant congeners.
► Accumulation of organo-brominated compounds are from inter-conversion.
► Patterns of relative concentrations of the target analytes were similar in fish diet.