Environmental ▼News Research challenges assumptions about flame retardant esearch published in this issue “It’s time for people to agree that tomotive equipment, construction (pp 112–119) provides the first Deca is not totally inert…that it can materials, and textiles. All of the definitive evidence that a popbe taken up and that it can be broPBDE flame retardant formulations ular brominated flame retardant ken down,” says Linda Birnbaum, take their names from the number could be the source of some of the director of the Experimental Toxiof bromine atoms in their major persistent, bioaccumulative, and cology Division of EPA’s National constituents. Deca has 10, although potentially toxic chemicals in the Health and Environmental Effects the commercial Deca formulation environment that are associated Research Laboratory. also contains compounds of differwith two other flame ent sizes; the same is retardants. The new also the case with the research is important Penta and Octa forbecause it raises quesmulations. In addition tions about whether to being very large, the the manufacturer’s reDeca molecules are cent decision to disextremely hydrophocontinue the other bic. flame retardants goes The PBDE comfar enough. pounds that Stapleton In late October, and Baker found in Great Lakes Chemical the experimental Corp. of West group of carp they exLafayette, Ind., anposed to BDE-209, but nounced a joint agreenot the control group, ment with the U.S. include BDE-154 and EPA to discontinue BDE-155, which are production of two associated with both widely used polythe Octa and Penta brominated diphenyl formulations. The reether (PBDE) flame researchers also identiThe Deca flame retardant used inside electronics equipment may be tardants known as the fied compounds that transformed into the compounds associated with the Penta and Octa Penta and Octa formu- retardants, which are being discontinued in the United States. were homologues of lations, which have althe Penta-, Hexa-, ready been banned in Europe (for The ES&T research by Heather Hepta-, and Octa-brominated molmore information, see p 14A). The Stapleton and Joel Baker of the ecules. The levels of a few of the denew ES&T research deals with the University of Maryland’s (UMD) brominated molecules, particularly Deca flame retardant, which is the Center for Environmental Science the Penta homologue, continued to most extensively used PBDE flame and their colleagues provides perincrease after the fish were no retardant in the world. suasive evidence that fish exposed longer exposed to Deca in their Until quite recently, most reto Deca can metabolize it into the food. searchers believed thatunlike the lighter brominated compounds asScientists have long suspected Penta and Octa formulationsthe sociated with the Penta and Octa that the brominated flame retarDeca PBDE chemicals added to flame retardant formulations. Deca dants were undergoing some kind consumer products to increase could also be breaking down into of metabolic transformation, betheir safety posed relatively little substances that are much more cause the amounts found in hurisk to the environment. But the toxic, including hydroxylated comman and animal tissues do not new ES&T research is just part of a pounds or fully debrominated match the percentages in the comgrowing body of data showing that diphenyl ethers, Stapleton and mercial formulations. For example, Deca can be both toxic and persisBaker say. the harbor seals in San Francisco tent. Some researchers contend The Deca flame retardant forBay have a lot of BDE-153 and 154, that the weight of evidence is now mulation is used in electrical and Birnbaum says. “There’s a little bit tipping the scales. electronic equipment, as well as auof 153 and 154 in the commercial PHOTODISC
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form BDE-47 or BDE-99, the major species typically found in fish. Also…the research seems to clearly support our extensive research demonstrating that Deca is not well absorbed,” according to a statement from the organization. Stapleton and Baker say that they are planning to look for other, non-PBDE breakdown products, including hydroxylated compounds, in the next studies they conduct. Another research paper in this issue describes nine methoxylated and hydroxylated PBDEs never previously reported in the environment in Baltic Sea salmon (pp 10–18). KELLYN S. BETTS
The eggs of Swedish peregrine falcons contain compounds in the Deca formulation, according to research published in this issue of ES&T (pp 93–96). Falcons are top predators, and they inhabit the highest trophic level in which brominated diphenyl ether (BDE) 209, a Deca molecule, has been found, says the paper’s corresponding author, The presence of Deca in peregrine falCynthia de Wit of Stockholm con eggs hints that researchers should University in Sweden. spend more time trying to find the comThe research also represents one pound in terrestrial ecosystems. of the first times that Deca has been detected in a terrestrial predator, and it suggests that the compound may be more of a concern in terrestrial ecosystems than previously believed. The diet of peregrine falcons consists solely of other birds, and de Wit posits two potential sources for the Deca compounds. Shorebirds, such as wading ducks, are the main prey of falcons living in the northern part of Sweden. Such birds may be taking up PBDEs by filtering contaminated sediments or eating the invertebrates that live in the sediments. And songbirds, such as thrushes and doves, which are more favored by falcons living in southern Sweden, may be taking up PBDEs through worms exposed to contaminated soil. The falcons may also be exposed to the PBDEs when they overwinter in central European sites with known PBDE releases, she says. The overall levels of PBDEs in the eggs were up to 39,000 nanograms per gram of fat, which are some of the highest yet reported in wildlife, de Wit adds. Although the PBDEs are not associated with the eggshell thinning that made falcons’ uptake of DDT so problematic, the neurobehavioral problems associated with neonatal exposure to PBDEs could prove problematic for a bird that relies on surprising its prey and diving on it, she says. —KELLYN S. BETTS
THE PEREGRINE FUND
Peregrine falcons take up Deca
News Briefs EU widens energy taxation All energy products in the European Union (EU)—including coal, natural gas, and electricity—will be subject to a uniform minimum tax starting in January 2004, according to a directive set by the EU’s environment ministers in October. Previously, minimum taxes were set only for mineral oils. Member states will levy taxes above the minimum set by the EU; the intention is to reduce tax disparities among different countries and fuels. The tax is also expected to increase the incentive to use energy more efficiently, and it will allow member states to offer tax incentives to companies in return for undertaking specific measures, such as new technologies to reduce emissions. For more information, go to http://europa.eu.int/ comm/taxation_customs/whatsnew.htm.
Investors seek more climate change data The effort to collect greenhouse gas emissions data by a group of institutional investors widened in November, when the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) sent out its second solicitation for data. The CDP, which is a special project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisers, again wrote to the 500 largest quoted companies in the world (based on worth rather than profits) in hopes of collecting data from the 255 companies that did not respond to the first survey and progress reports from the companies that had previously responded. The 87 investors now involved in the CDP project, who control assets totaling more than $9 trillion, say that actions relating to climate change offer potential business risk and opportunities (Environ. Sci. Technol. 2003, 37, 165A). The project’s first trawl for data in May 2002 produced 245 replies. For more information, see www.cdproject.net.
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Penta mix, but not very much,” she says. Researchers have a wealth of evidence that Deca is breaking down in other species and humans, and perhaps in the environment, Birnbaum says. The new research points to “somewhat of a different paradigm,” adds Baker. While concerns about accumulation of PCBs and dioxins are based on the chemicals themselves, the metabolites are the issue with BDE-209, he says. However, the Bromine Science and Environment Forum, an industry group, says that the research “seems to counter the contention that Deca debrominates in fish to
