Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, flame retardants, commonly used in plastics and textiles, are associated with a higher risk of cancer death.
- Brominated flame retardants are chemical compounds used to reduce the risk of flame.
- They are associated with an increased risk of death from cancer.
- This could be linked to their effects on the hormonal system.
These are chemical compounds present in many everyday objects. Brominated flame retardants are used to reduce the risk of flame, in the event of contact with a heat source. According to a study published in JAMAa subgroup, called polybrominated diphenyl ethers, is associated with a higher risk of death from cancer.
Brominated flame retardant: persistent pollutants in the environment
The authors of this study are scientists from the University of Science and Technology of China. As a preamble, they recall that the manufacture and use of PBDEs is largely prohibited today, but these chemical compounds are very persistent. “PBDEs remain ubiquitous in the environment (e.g. air, water, soil), bioaccumulate in food chains, and have a high potential for long-range transport, they develop. Humans continue to be exposed to these compounds by eating food or breathing air contaminated with PBDEs.” However, their effects on health are not fully known. Previous studies have shown an association between exposure to PBDE and the risk of thyroid disease, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. This time, Chinese researchers sought to understand the links with the risk of death.
A 300% higher risk of cancer death for those most exposed to brominated flame retardants
To achieve this, they used a cohort of more than 16,000 American adults. All of them had participated in a vast survey on health and nutrition in the early 2000s. These people were followed for around fifteen years by scientists. According to the findings of this new study, participants with the highest levels of PBDEs in the body had a 300% higher risk of death from cancer, compared to people with the lowest levels. On the other hand, no association was noted with deaths from other causes, notably cardiovascular. “Stratified analyzes showed that the observed associations between PBDE exposure and cancer mortality did not differ significantly by age, sex, ethnicity, diet quality, physical activity, or weight”add the authors.
How to explain the links between PBDE and cancer risk?
They believe that these pollutants could have negative effects on human hormones. “As endocrine-disrupting chemicals, PBDEs and their metabolites can bind to hormone receptors (i.e. estrogen receptors), act as both agonists and antagonists, and then disrupt hormone homeostasisthey develop. This plays a role in the development and progression of endocrine tumors such as thyroid cancer.” Other research has shown that PBDEs can cause oxidative stress within cells, degrade DNA and disrupt the cell cycle.
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