Biomonitoring Equivalents (BEs) for tetrabromobisphenol A

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is a flame retardant used in a variety of products, including epoxy and polycarbonate resins. Relevant exposure to TBBPA has been assessed by measuring TBBPA in the blood of humans. Here, we derive Biomonitoring Equivalents (BEs) for TBBPA to interpret these, and future biomonitoring results for TBBPA in humans. The available toxicity risk values (TRVs) for TBBPA were all based on toxicology studies in rats. Several studies have been conducted in which TBBPA in blood of rats were measured following controlled oral doses of TBBPA. These data provide a robust relationship from which to derive BEs. BEs of 5.6 and 13.0 mu g total TBBPA/L plasma were calculated for available cancer and non-cancer TRVs, respectively. Several studies have measured TBBPA in serum, with median concentrations less than 0.1 mu g/L, indicating considerable margins of safety (MOS) for TBBPA based on the currently available biomonitoring studies.