The biological fate of decabromodiphenyl ethane following oral, dermal or intravenous administration

Abstract

1. It was important to investigate the disposition of decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) based on concerns over its structural similarities to decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE), high potential for environmental persistence and bioaccumulation, and high production volume.

2. In the present study, female Sprague Dawley rats were administered a single dose of [¹⁴C]-DBDPE by oral, topical or IV routes. Another set of rats were administered 10 daily oral doses of [¹⁴C]-DBDPE. Male B6C3F1/Tac mice were administered a single oral dose.

3. DBDPE was poorly absorbed following oral dosing, with 95% of administered [¹⁴C]-radioactivity recovered in the feces unchanged, 1% recovered in the urine and less than 3% in the tissues at 72 h. DBDPE excretion was similar in male mice and female rats. Accumulation of [¹⁴C]-DBDPE was observed in liver and the adrenal gland after 10 daily oral doses to rats.

4. Rat and human skin were used to assess potential dermal uptake of DBDPE. The dermis was a depot for dermally applied DBDPE; conservative estimates predict ∼14 ± 8% of DBDPE may be absorbed into human skin in vivo; ∼7 ± 4% of the parent chemical is expected to reach systemic circulation following continuous exposure (24 h).

5. Following intravenous administration, ∼70% of the dose remained in tissues after 72 h, with the highest concentrations found in lung (1223 ± 723 pmol-eq/g), spleen (1096 ± 369 pmol-eq/g) and liver (366 ± 98 pmol-eq/g); 5 ± 1% of the dose was recovered in urine and 26 ± 4% in the feces.

Keywords:

• ADME
• bioaccumulation
• brominated flame retardant
• lipophilic
• persistent organic pollutant

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Ms. Brenda Edwards and Mr. Vivek Miyani, for technical assistance. This article has been reviewed in accordance with the policy of the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no declarations of interest. This research was supported in part by the Intramural Research Program of NIH/NCI.

Supplementary material available online