Evaluation of the Genotoxic and Physiological Effects of Decabromodiphenyl Ether (BDE-209) and Dechlorane Plus (DP) Flame Retardants in Marine Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis)

Environ Sci Technol. 2016 Mar 1;50(5):2700-8. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5b05814. Epub 2016 Feb 17.

Abstract

Dechlorane Plus (DP) is a proposed alternative to the legacy flame retardant decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209), a major component of Deca-BDE formulations. In contrast to BDE-209, toxicity data for DP are scarce and often focused on mice. Validated dietary in vivo exposure of the marine bivalve (Mytilus galloprovincialis) to both flame retardants did not induce effects at the physiological level (algal clearance rate), but induced DNA damage, as determined by the comet assay, at all concentrations tested. Micronuclei formation was induced by both DP and BDE-209 at the highest exposure concentrations (100 and 200 μg/L, respectively, at 18% above controls). DP caused effects similar to those by BDE-209 but at lower exposure concentrations (5.6, 56, and 100 μg/L for DP and 56, 100, and 200 μg/L for BDE-209). Moreover, bioaccumulation of DP was shown to be concentration dependent, in contrast to BDE-209. The results described suggest that DP poses a greater genotoxic potential than BDE-209.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Comet Assay
  • DNA Damage / drug effects
  • Ecotoxicology / methods
  • Environmental Exposure / adverse effects
  • Flame Retardants / pharmacokinetics
  • Flame Retardants / toxicity
  • Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / pharmacokinetics
  • Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / toxicity*
  • Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / pharmacokinetics
  • Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / toxicity*
  • Mutagenicity Tests / methods
  • Mytilus / drug effects*
  • Mytilus / physiology
  • Polycyclic Compounds / pharmacokinetics
  • Polycyclic Compounds / toxicity*

Substances

  • Flame Retardants
  • Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers
  • Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated
  • Polycyclic Compounds
  • dechlorane plus
  • decabromobiphenyl ether