Low doses of penta-brominated diphenyl ether flame retardants alter gene expression

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are chemicals that have been widely used as flame retardants and are persistent organic pollutants. Human health concerns have arisen based on studies with laboratory animals exposed to high levels of PBDEs, not typical of human exposures. In this study, oral ingestion of a relatively low dose of PBDE mixture DE-71 by pregnant and lactating rats was found to increase thyroid hormones in female offspring and increase gonadal osteopontin gene expression.

Read the whole article on Science Daily

More from Science Daily