In vitro cytotoxicity of decabrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE-209) to human red blood cells (hRBCs)

•Effect of PBDE-209 on the anti-oxidative defense system, structure and function (ATP enzyme activity) of hRBCs is assessed.•Affected activity (content) of SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, GSH, MDA in hRBCs cause decline in function of antioxidant defense system.•The PBDE-209 can result in the cytoplasmic projections and structure deformation of the hRBCs.•The relative ATPase activity can be decreased by the PBDE-209.

This work presents the effect of decabrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE-209) on the anti-oxidative defense capacity, and ATPase activity (structure and function) of human red blood cells (hRBCs). The results show that the PBDE-209 influences the activity and content of typical biomolecules (SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, GSH and MDA) in hRBCs, causing a decline in the function of the antioxidant defense system. The PBDE-209 with a concentration of 10 μmol/L resulted in the cytoplasmic projections and structure deformation of the hRBCs. When its concentration exceeds 25 μmol/L, the relative ATPase activity was decreased to 20% of the initial activity. Since the discovered effects of PBDE-209 on hRBCs are in cell level, this study may offer some information to advise the related in vivo cytotoxicity works.