Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBBs) & Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs)

CAS ID #: 67774-32-7, 32536-52-0, 1163-19-5, 32534-81-9

Summary:

Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) are manufactured chemicals. They are added to the plastics used to make products like computer monitors, televisions, textiles, plastic foams, etc. to make them difficult to burn. PBBs can leave these plastics and find their way into the environment. PBBs are usually colorless to off-white solids. PBBs are mixtures of brominated biphenyl compounds known as congeners.

In the United States, manufacturing of PBBs was stopped in 1976. PBBs are still around in the environment because they do not degrade easily or quickly.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are flame-retardant chemicals that are added to plastics and foam products to make them difficult to burn. There are different kinds of PBDEs; soµme have only a few bromine atoms attached, while some have as many as ten broµmine attached to the central molecule.

PBDEs exist as mixtures of similar chemicals called congeners. Because they are mixed into plastics and foams rather than bound to them, PBDEs can leave the products that contain them and enter the environment.

Community Members 

ToxFAQs™ : Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBBs)

Fact sheet that answers the most frequently asked questions about a contaminant and its health effects.

ToxFAQs™ : Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs)

Fact sheet that answers the most frequently asked questions about a contaminant and its health effects.

Public Health Statement : Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBBs)

Summary about a hazardous substance taken from Chapter One of its respective ATSDR Toxicological Profile.

Public Health Statement : Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs)

Summary about a hazardous substance taken from Chapter One of its respective ATSDR Toxicological Profile.

Toxicological and Health Professionals 

Toxicological Profile

Succinctly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health effects information for a hazardous substance.

Priority List of Hazardous Substances

Prioritization of substances based on a combination of their frequency, toxicity, and potential for human exposure at National Priorities List (NPL) sites.

Minimal Risk Levels (MRL)

The MRL is an estimate of the daily human exposure to a hazardous substance that is likely to be without appreciable risk of adverse, non-cancer health effects over a specified duration of exposure. The information in this MRL serves as a screening tool to help public health professionals decide where to look more closely to evaluate possible risk of adverse health effects from human exposure.