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Characterization of polybrominated diphenyl ethers along US coasts
Characterization of polybrominated diphenyl ethers along US coast
Abstract
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are organic compounds used as flame retardant additives in plastics, textiles, and other materials. They have the potential to migrate into the environment. Production of PBDEs began in the 1970s, and has continued to the present. Concern over human health effects of PBDEs has heightened recently due to evidence that PBDEs are ubiquitous in the environment. Environmental concentrations of PBDE’s appear to be stable at nominal levels in Europe, but are increasing in Canada and the United States. The current state of knowledge about PBDE distributions and their potential effects has been developed almost entirely from land-based health studies, and information regarding PBDE distribution in coastal and Great Lakes environments is largely absent. A partnership developed among CCEHBR, Texas A&M University, and CCMA will fill this data gap. The first ever comprehensive National baseline assessment for PBDE’s to inform ecosystem and public health managers in coastal regions is being developed.
Objectives
- Develop a baseline assessment of PBDE concentrations in coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes environments.
- Revisit the NS&T Mussel Watch sites in 2006 that were sampled for PBDE’s in 2004, and have archived MW samples from 1996 at these same locations analyzed for PBDE concentrations.
- Use results of the analyses to guide selection of a subset of Mussel Watch sites for a detailed trends analysis in PBDE concentrations.
- Provide results to NOAA, its stakeholders, and the scientific community through a series of reports documenting findings from the proposed activities. Data and results also will be provided.
Time Frame
2007.
For More Information
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