Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers and Other Persistent Organic Pollutants in Serum Pools from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey: 2001–2002

Abstract

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and persistent pesticides have been measured in serum pools from participants 3–5, 6–11, 12–19, 20–39, 40–59, and ≥60 years of age from the 2001–2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. For 2,2′,4,4′-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (PBDE-47), the unweighted (not adjusted for sampling weights) arithmetic mean concentration (±95% confidence interval) was 3.4 times higher in 3–5-year-olds (216 ± 30 ng/g of lipid) than in 12–19-year-olds (64 ± 11 ng/g of lipid), with no apparent change with increasing age for adults ≥20 years of age. By contrast, unweighted arithmetic mean concentrations of traditional persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and 2,2′,3,3′,4,4′,5,5′-octachlorobiphenyl (PCB194) were 2- and 20-fold higher, respectively, in persons ≥60 years than in 12–19-year-old adolescents. Findings suggest higher exposures to PBDEs but lower exposures to traditional POPs in 3–5-year-old children than in adults