• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.124-130
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• 2013

Of all the brominated flame retardants (BFRs), TBBPA has the largest production volume (50% of the BFRs in current use). It is interest to investigate how they may degrade, because of it can pose an environmental hazard. By using UV-A (${\lambda}=352nm$ ), we have found that the UV-A irradiation increased the photodecomposition reaction rate of TBBPA in an intensity-dependent manner. We also observed 2,6-dibromo-p-benzosemiquinone radical ($a_{2H}=2.36G$, g = 2.0056) generated from TBBPA by reaction with singlet oxygen ($^1O_2$). On the other hand, when an aqueous preparation of HA was irradiated in the presence of TBBPA, the typical spectrum of semiquinone radical was detected by electron spin resonance (ESR). And then, we have found that the photodecomposition rate of TBBPA is decreased in depend on HA concentration. Radical formation and the reactive rate of TBBPA were inhibited by sodium azide used as a singlet oxygen quencher. Therefore we report that a similar $^1O_2$-induced oxidation can be initiate in aqueous solutions of TBBPA dissolved in humic acid (HA) by the UV-A irradiation (${\lambda}=352nm$). From these results, we suggest that the reaction rate of HA with $^1O_2$ is faster than that of TBBPA with $^1O_2$.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.61-70
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• 2011

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are present in many consumer products ranging from fabrics to plastics and electronics. Wide use of flame retardants can pose an environmental hazard, which makes it important to determine the mechanism of their toxicity. In the present study, dose-dependent toxicity of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), a flame retardant, was examined in male prepubertal rats (postnatal day 18) treated orally with TBBPA at 0, 125, 250 or 500 mg/kg for 30 days. There were no differences in body weight gain between the control and TBBPA-treated groups. However, absolute and relative liver weights were significantly increased in high dose of TBBPA-treated groups. TBBPA treatment led to significant induction of CYP2B1 and constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) expression in the liver. In addition, serum thyroxin (T4) concentration was significantly reduced in the TBBPA treated group. These results indicate that repeated exposure to TBBPA induces drug-metabolising enzymes in rats through the CAR signaling pathway. In particular, TBBPA efficiently produced reactive oxygen species (ROS) through CYP2B1 induction in rats. We measured 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), a biomarker of DNA oxidative damage, in the kidney, liver and testes of rats following TBBPA treatment. As expected, TBBPA strongly induced the production of 8-OHdG in the testis and kidney. These observations suggest that TBBPA-induced target organ toxicity may be due to ROS produced by metabolism of TBBPA in Sprague-Dawley rats.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.93-101
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• 2019

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), the most common industrial brominated flame retardant, acts as a cytotoxic, neurotoxic, and immunotoxicant, causing inflammation and tumors. However, the mechanism of TBBPA-induced matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression in human breast cancer cells is not clear. In human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, treatment with TBBPA significantly induced the expression and promoter activity of MMP-9. Transient transfection with MMP-9 mutation promoter constructs verified that $NF-{\kappa}B$ and AP-1 response elements are responsible for the effects of TBBPA. Furthermore, TBBPA-induced MMP-9 expression was mediated by $NF-{\kappa}B$ and AP-1 transcription activation as a result of the phosphorylation of the Akt and MAPK signaling pathways. Moreover, TBBPA-induced activation of Akt/MAPK pathways and MMP-9 expression were attenuated by a specific NADPH oxidase inhibitor, and the ROS scavenger. These results suggest that TBBPA can induce cancer cell metastasis by releasing MMP-9 via ROS-dependent MAPK, and Akt pathways in MCF-7 cells.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.22 no.2 s.57
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• pp.157-163
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• 2007

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is the most widely used BFR (brominated flame retardants) as a reactive flame retardant in printed circuit boards, and as additive applications in several types of polymers. The purpose of this study is to assess the adverse effects of TBBPA on the benthic amphipod (Hyalella azteca). Results on the acute toxicity of TBBPA using Hyalella azteca showed that NOEC and LOEC are 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg, respectively. In addition, when chronic toxicity of TBBPA was investigated at the concentration ranges between 0.01 to 100mg/kg, it was found that NOECs are $10mg/kg(fecundity){\sim}100mg/kg(viability)$, respectively. Significant fecundity inhibition was appeared at 100mg/kg of TBBPA, however, this concentration did not show severe adverse effect on weight increment. The values of PNEC were determined as 0.1mg/kg (fecundity) and 1mg/kg (lethal effect), respectively, using a safety factor suggested by EU and OECD.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.303-309
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• 2009

Hepatic antioxidant defense systems were examined in rats treated with tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA), a brominated flame retardant, at the doses of 0, 250, 500 and 1,000 mg/kg for four weeks. Hepatic ratio of glutathione disulfide to glutathione (GSH) and levels of malondialdehyde, oxidative stress markers were not changed in rats treated with TBBPA. Hepatic expression of antioxidant enzymes including GSH peroxdiase-1 (GPX-1)/GSH reductase (GR), alpha-, mu- and pi-class glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and gamma-glutamylcysteine ligase catalytic subunit was determined using immunoblot analysis. Alpha-class GSTs, GPX-1 and GR levels were significantly decreased in rats treated with TBBPA at the dose of 500 or 1,000 mg/kg. These results show that TBBPA results in down-regulation of hepatic expression of antioxidant enzymes related with GSH, suggesting the liver in TBBPA-treated rats may be more sensitive to oxidants.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.373-383
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• 2016

The aim of this study is to determine the exposure concentration of tetrabromobisphenol A(TBBPA) in southwestern coast and their photodecomposition rate. Also, it is to identify the radical species of the photodecomposition of TBBPA and their reactive byproducts using the electron spin resonance(ESR) method. TBBPA was not detected in any of the sea water samples from Mokpo, Gunsan, or Goheung. The sediment samples from Mokpo contained not detection(N.D)~50.0 ng/g dry wt., while those from Gunsan contained N.D~28.5 ng/g dry wt. and those from Goheung contained N.D~7.3 ng/g dry wt. The photodecomposition rates were $2.56{\times}10^{-6}/hr$ by visible light(400 nm), $7.98{\times}10^{-6}/hr$ by ultraviolet light(300 nm <), and $6.78{\times}10^{-6}/hr$ by sunlight. Also, we confirmed that singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radicals are the key reactive oxygen species at wavelengths greater than 400 and 300 nm, respectively. This study shows that the main byproducts formed during irradiation at wavelengths above 300 nm are 2,6-dibromobenzosemiquinone radical(2,6-$DBSQ{\cdot}^-$) and g-value 2.0048 doublet spectrum.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.354-363
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• 2018

We examined the levels of brominated flame-retardants (BFRs) including polybrominateddiphenyl ethers (PBDEs), tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), and phthalates in indoor dusts in residential houses in Korea, and their distribution patterns depending on building characteristics. Mean concentrations of phthalate esters ($1,825{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$) were significantly higher than that of BFRs (PBDE: $1,332ng\;g^{-1}$, HBCDs: $459ng\;g^{-1}$, and TBBPA: $213ng\;g^{-1}$), indicating more frequent use of phthalate-containing products such as PVC flooring in the Korean houses. PVC flooring house was associated with higher concentrations of DEHP (p = 0.001) and BBP (p = 0.012), indicating that exposure to phthalate was higher in the PVC flooring house. Building age was significantly related with levels of PBDEs especially BDE-47 (p = 0.062), BDE-203 (p = 0.007), DEHP (p = 0.004), and BBP (p = 0.070), respectively, indicating that older buildings can produce higher amounts of PBDEs and phthalates. Our study can provide important information on the sources of BFRs and phthalates in residential houses in Korea.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.346-359
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• 2002

The brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are one of the unregulated pollutants in Korea, which is recently highlighted the new pollutants of environmental contamination. In this study, the previous research papers related the BFRs were surveyed, and the analytical methods of BFRs were established. The results are followed; The 40 kinds of PBDEs standards were used to establish the analytical methods to perform the experiments of recoveries and detection limits in water and soil. The detection limits of PBDEs using GC/MS represented 5.0~10.0 pg/L for water and 0.5~2.0 ng/g for soil samples. The average recoveries of water samples were 89~98% with ethylacetate, n-hexane and dichloromethane, and 89~103% in combined solvent with n-hexane and acetone. In soxhlet extraction, the higher recoveries obtained the acetone:n-hexane(1:1) comparing with acetone:dichloromethane(1:1).