June 23, 2005 – PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers or polybrominated diphenyl ethers) are said to be on the verge of catching up with PCBs as unwanted substances polluting the environment and threatening human health.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently measured the PBDE content of 52 samples of human fat. The levels of PBDEs found in these samples greatly exceeded any observations made so far. In a 23-year-old woman, the rate was four times higher than the maximum rate observed to date, while in another subject, a 32-year-old man, it was 9.5 times higher.
PBDEs, substances related to PCBs (which are now banned), are used to improve the resistance of plastics to fire. They are, therefore, present in a multitude of common products: computer and television cases, electrical and electronic components, fabrics, upholstery materials, etc.
The problem is that, like PCBs, they are persistent, that is, they only degrade very slowly. In addition, like PCBs, they accumulate in the fats of living organisms.
In animals, exposure to these substances can lead to behavioral, nervous and reproductive system disorders, as well as liver disorders and thyroid hormonal dysfunction.1.2.
Biologists have observed that over the past two decades, the level of PBDEs in the fats of marine mammals and fish has increased exponentially. In addition, the results of a Canadian Wildlife Service study indicate that the level of PBDEs in the bodies of Great Lakes gulls has doubled every 40 months since the early 1980s.
It seems to be the same for humans. According to a study conducted by Professor Éric Dewailly (social and preventive medicine) on behalf of the Institut national de santé publique du Québec, the PBDE content in breast milk of women living in southern Quebec has increased by 23 from 1989 to 2002.
According to Professor Dewailly, there is an urgent need to ban these substances: “Once we see that one type of molecule interferes with hormones and that it is present in humans, we should not wait. We can no longer afford to do epidemiological studies! In California and in Europe, we have already acted and PBDEs will soon be banned. In Canada, they are considered toxic substances, but their use is still authorized.
Pierre Lefrançois – PasseportSanté.net
According to Cyberpresse.ca and Radio-Canada.
1. CEPA Environmental Registry – Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) Environmental Screening Assessment Report. Environment Canada, 2004. [Consulté le 21 juin 2005]. www.ec.gc.ca
2. Mehran Alaee et al. Impact of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers on the Canadian Environment and on the Health of Canadians. Environment Canada, 2002. [Consulté le 21 juin 2005]. www.hc-sc.gc.ca
