Dataset Information

Urinary tetrabromobenzoic acid (TBBA) as a biomarker of exposure to the flame retardant mixture Firemaster® 550.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Firemaster® 550 (FM550) is commonly added to residential furniture to reduce its flammability. Recent toxicological evidence suggests that FM550 may be endocrine disrupting and obesogenic. OBJECTIVES:Our objectives were to develop methods to assess exposure to FM550 in human populations and to identify potential routes of exposure. METHODS:Using mass spectrometry methods, we developed a method to measure 2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoic acid (TBBA), a urinary metabolite of the major brominated FM550 component 2-ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (TBB). The method was applied to a cohort of adult volunteers (n = 64). Participants completed questionnaires, provided urine and handwipe samples, and collected dust samples from their homes. We measured TBB and the other major brominated FM550 component, bis(2-ethylhexyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrabromophthalate (TBPH), in paired dust and handwipe samples. RESULTS:TBBA was detected in 72.4% of urine samples. Although TBBA is a rapidly formed metabolite, analyses indicated moderate temporal reliability (interclass correlation coefficient = 0.56; 95% confidence interval: 0.46, 0.66). TBB and TBPH were detected frequently in dust samples [geometric mean (GM) = 315.1 and 364.7 ng/g, respectively] and in handwipes (GM = 31.4 and 23.4 ng, respectively). Levels of TBB and TBPH in dust were positively correlated with levels in handwipes. In addition, levels of TBB in handwipes were positively correlated with urinary TBBA. Results suggest frequent hand washing may reduce the mass of TBB on participants' hands and reduce urinary TBBA levels. CONCLUSIONS:Cumulatively, our data indicate that exposures to FM550 are widespread and that the home environment may be an important source of exposure. Urinary TBBA provides a potentially useful biomarker of FM550 exposure for epidemiologic studies.

SUBMITTER: Hoffman K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4154220 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Urinary tetrabromobenzoic acid (TBBA) as a biomarker of exposure to the flame retardant mixture Firemaster® 550.

Hoffman Kate K Fang Mingliang M Horman Brian B Patisaul Heather B HB Garantziotis Stavros S Birnbaum Linda S LS Stapleton Heather M HM

Environmental health perspectives 20140513 9

<h4>Background</h4>Firemaster® 550 (FM550) is commonly added to residential furniture to reduce its flammability. Recent toxicological evidence suggests that FM550 may be endocrine disrupting and obesogenic.<h4>Objectives</h4>Our objectives were to develop methods to assess exposure to FM550 in human populations and to identify potential routes of exposure.<h4>Methods</h4>Using mass spectrometry methods, we developed a method to measure 2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoic acid (TBBA), a urinary metabolite ...[more]

PMID: 24823833

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Project description:BackgroundExposure to flame retardants has been associated with negative health outcomes including metabolic effects. As polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants were pulled from commerce, human exposure to new flame retardants such as Firemaster® 550 (FM550) has increased. Although previous studies in murine systems have shown that FM550 and its main components increase adipogenesis, the effects of FM550 in human models have not been elucidated.ObjectivesThe objectives of this study were to determine if FM550 and its components are active in human preadipocytes, and to further investigate their mode of action.MethodsHuman primary preadipocytes were differentiated in the presence of FM550 and its components. Differentiation was assessed by lipid accumulation and expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARG), fatty acid binding protein (FABP) 4 and lipoprotein lipase (LPL). mRNA was collected for Poly (A) RNA sequencing and was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Functional analysis of DEGs was undertaken in Ingenuity Pathway Analysis.ResultsFM550 triphenyl phosphate (TPP) and isopropylated triphenyl phosphates (IPTP), increased adipogenesis in human primary preadipocytes as assessed by lipid accumulation and mRNA expression of regulators of adipogenesis such as PPARγ, CCAAT enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) α and sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP) 1 as well as the adipogenic markers FABP4 LPL and perilipin. Poly (A) RNA sequencing analysis revealed potential modes of action including liver X receptor/retinoid X receptor (LXR/RXR) activation, thyroid receptor (TR)/RXR, protein kinase A, and nuclear receptor subfamily 1 group H members activation.ConclusionsWe found that FM550, and two of its components, induced adipogenesis in human primary preadipocytes. Further, using global gene expression analysis we showed that both TPP and IPTP likely exert their effects through PPARG to induce adipogenesis. In addition, IPTP perturbed signaling pathways that were not affected by TPP. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP1318.

Dataset Information

Urinary tetrabromobenzoic acid (TBBA) as a biomarker of exposure to the flame retardant mixture Firemaster® 550.

Publications

Urinary tetrabromobenzoic acid (TBBA) as a biomarker of exposure to the flame retardant mixture Firemaster® 550.

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