Project 176630

During the past thirty years, brominated flame retardants (BFRs) have been used worldwide as fire retardant chemicals in a wide variety of consumer products (textiles, foam furniture, electrical equipment and electronics). Unfortunately, the BFRs leach out of these products: at present, greater than 80% of human exposure to the BFRs is due to contaminated dust in our immediate living spaces (home, car, workplace) with the remainder from food. As a result of increasing exposure, BFR levels in North Americans (serum, tissues) are some of the highest in the world. Of particular concern is the fact that newborns and young infants have the highest serum levels, since it is generally believed that infants are more vulnerable to toxicological insults. Animal studies of BFR exposure have demonstrated interference with male as well as female reproductive organ development and function. Limited clinical studies suggest an association with abnormal male reproductive development (cryptorchidism in newborns, lower sperm levels in young adults). These data suggest that the BFRs are impacting early stages of human development and that at least one outcome is abnormal male reproduction. This is a serious issue: not only is an individual's health potentially at risk but that of future generations. There is a clear need for additional data, to address the concerns of Canadians about the use of BFRs and to provide the information that is essential for policy makers and regulators. Our multidisciplinary team of expert clinical and basic scientists from five Canadian universities in partnership with Health Canada will address these concerns. Our goals are: 1) to elucidate the impact of BFR exposure during pregnancy and postnatally on human reproduction; 2) to use animal models to mimic human BFR exposures and investigate the effects on development and reproduction; and 3) to explore the ethical, legal and social issues raised by the results.