Assessment of exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) via seafood consumption and dust ingestion in Korea

Abstract

Concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were determined in commonly consumed seafood and house dust collected from Korea. Total concentrations of PBDEs in seafood and house dust samples were in the ranges of 0.06 to 6.25 ng/g wet weight and 80 to 16,000 ng/g dry weight, respectively. Predominant congeners in seafood were BDEs 47, 99 and 100 and those in dust samples were BDE 209. Estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of PBDEs through seafood consumption and dust ingestion for adults (>20 years) and toddlers (<2 years) were 1.83 and 11.4 ng/kg body weight/day, respectively. In comparison with the EDIs reported for PBDEs by general population in several countries, the contribution of seafood consumption to PBDE intake in Korea was the highest. Seafood consumption and dust ingestion contributed equally to the total PBDE intakes in Korean adults, while dust ingestion was the major contributor to toddlers. This study was the first to assess exposure of humans to PBDEs through two major exposure pathways.