Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche ''Togo Rosati''

Authors Piersanti A, Tavoloni T, Stramenga A, Bardeggia V, Bastari E, Pavoni E, Galarini R, Moretti S, Saluti G, Rossi R, Perugini M

Abstract  BFRs are substances added to plastics, textiles and other materials to reduce flammability; they comprise a diverse variety of brominated organic compounds used to ensure that manufactured goods comply with fire safety regulations. Hexabromocyclododanes (HBCDs) were mainly used in building sector in the expanded polystyrene used as insulator. They have been also extensively applied in textile industry for the production of cotton or synthetic fibers (Covacci et al., 2006; EFSA 2011). Their chemical structure is a cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbon in which six hydrogen atoms are replaced by bromines. The HBCDs commercial mixture is predominantly composed of 3 stereoisomers: γ-isomer (72-90%), followed by α - (13%) and finally by β-HBCDs (<0.5-12%). δ- and ε-HBCD isomers can also be present (EFSA 2011). Like all BFRs, HBCDs are added without linking them to the polymer by chemical bonds, that is the reason why they are easily released into the environment, not only during the production and disposal, but also during use. The widespread of these substances brought to the contamination of all the environmental compartments so that now they are detectable in soils, sediments, biota and also in human biological fluids. In the last amendment of the Stockholm Convention (2013), HBCDs have been included in the list of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) which use should be restricted. The present project aimed to produce a validated method for the determination of the three α-, β- and γ-HBCD isomers in food, in order to have a tool to monitor the low background levels. A reliable and validated analytical method allows to implement monitoring plans and therefore to collect extensive and detailed information on HBCDs contamination levels and therefore on human exposure through diet. Toxicological studies on zebrafish embryos have been carried out within the project in order to obtain information on the potential flame-retardants toxicity, in particular regarding the biological effect and acute toxicity (CL50) of HBCDs.

Publish Date  2018

Volume  109

ISSN  1592-1581

DOI  No

URL   https://www.spvet.it/archivio/numero-109/686.html

Journal  Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria

Pages  No

PMID  no