Levels, dietary intake and risk of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in foods commonly consumed in Nigeria

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers are non-reactive flame retardants listed among the persistent organic pollutants. This study assesses the levels and health risk of PBDEs in foods commonly consumed by the adult population in Southwest Nigeria. Eight different food categories were collected and extracted using standard QuEChERS protocol prior to analysis by gas chromatography with micro electron capture detector. Aquatic foods had the highest maximum concentration of the eight PBDEs congeners, 748 pg/g; followed by 80.3 pg/g and 54.9 pg/g in edible oil and meat products, respectively. Dairy products had the lowest concentration (0.46 pg/g). The estimated average dietary intake of PBDEs by an adult was 131 pg/kg bw/day. Based on the levels of PBDEs found in common foods consumed by the adult population in Southwest Nigeria, there is unlikely to be a health risk. However, there is a need to investigate the dietary intake of PBDEs in other food categories, especially by vulnerable groups, such as children and the elderly.