Exposures and Health Effects
OctaBDE may enter the body by ingestion or inhalation. It is "stored mainly in body fat" and may stay in the body for years. In an investigation carried out by the WWF, "the brominated flame retardant chemical (PBDE 153), which is a component of the penta- and octa- brominated diphenyl ether flame retardant products" was found in all blood samples of 14 ministers of health and environment of 13 European Union countries.
The chemical has no proven health effects in humans; however, based on animal experiments, octaBDE may have effects on "the liver, thyroid, and neurobehavioral development."
Read more about this topic: Octabromodiphenyl Ether
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