A class of intractable bio accumulative halogenated compounds polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) was studied. Specifically, PBDEs and dechloran plus (DP) contamination in wheat and the assaulted environment-agricultural soil and dust-from metropolitan cities of Pakistan was the focus. The exposure of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) to humans, their probable toxicological impact on health, source apportionment, and the spatial tendency of BFRs were studied. Chromatographic analysis was performed, and concentrations (ng g-1) of ΣPBDE and ΣDP in soil, dust, and cereal crops were estimated in a range from 0.63 to 31.70 n.d. to 6.32 and n.d. to 3.47, respectively, and 0.11 to 7.05, n.d. to 4.56 and 0.05 to 4.95, respectively. Data analysis of source apportionment reflected that the existence of solid and e-waste sites, long-range transport, urban and industrial fraction can be the potential source of PBDE and DP pollution. Moreover, potential hazardous risks to human health across the study area via the dietary intake of cereal foods were deemed trifling, and were gauged on the basis of existing toxicological data.
Keywords: PBDEs and DPs; cereal crops; dietary intake; ecological risks; human health hazards.