Human toxicity of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and their derivatives: A comprehensive review

Polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been pervasively used as an additive flame retardant in various fields. The nature of environmental persistence, bioaccumulation, and potential toxicity attracted attention worldwide and became a threat to both the ecosystem and human health. Originally, PBDEs are produced in chemical factories. PBDEs exposure was mainly by ingestion of contaminated food products, followed by inhalation of particles containing deposited PBDEs. This review concluded the liver injuries, thyroid hormone disorder, neurotoxicity, genotoxicity and immune system disorders as five major toxicities via overexposure to PBDEs and their toxic mechanism. PBDEs can cause severe consequences by inducing mitochondria dysfunction and oxidative stress, disrupting neurotransmitter metabolism and compromising the integrity of DNA, etc. This review presented an in-depth analysis of the most recent toxicological evidence to offer suggestions for future studies to control human overexposure to PBDEs. [Display omitted] •PBDEs entering human body mainly through food, water, and inhalation pathway.•PBDEs exposure detected in most areas was lower than that of reference dose (rfD).•Toxicity of PBDEs mainly showed in liver, thyroid, genital system and immune system.•Oxidative stress is one of the main toxicity pathways of PBDEs to humans.