Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in marine foodstuffs in Australia: residue levels and contamination status of PBDEs

Abstract

Edible marine products (n=24) collected from the fish markets in Adelaide, Australia, were analysed for the presence of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The total concentration of 11 PBDE congeners found in the marine products ranged from 1.01 to 45 ng/g fresh weight. Among the samples analysed, imported silver fish and prawns from Vietnam and Thailand respectively, recorded the highest ∑PBDEs concentrations (45.10 and 43.29 ng/g fresh weight) as against 13.08 and 12.57 ng/g fresh weight in Australian king prawns and Gar fish. BDE-209 was the most dominant congener in the marine products followed by BDE-47, 99 and 100. The calculated average daily intakes of ∑PBDEs per day for an adult male and female (19 or more years old) were 1026.8 and 1188.4 ng/kg per day, respectively. This study clearly shows that the dietary exposure to marine foods can contribute to PBDEs accumulation in human body.