PBDE Health Data Posted to IRIS

Final human health assessments for four polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are now available on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Web site, http://www.epa.gov/ncea/iris/recent.htm.

The four PBDEs are tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47), pentabromodiphenyl (BDE-99), hexabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-153), and decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209).

PBDEs are used as flame retardants in a variety of consumer products including furniture foam, draperies, carpets, automobile fabrics, and plastics for TV cabinets and personal computers.

These IRIS health assessments were subjected to agency and inter-agencies reviews, external peer review by a panel of experts, and public review prior to finalization.