Summary
This EFSA risk assessment updated the 2011 evaluation of hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDDs), brominated flame retardants present in food and the environment. The Panel identified neurodevelopmental effects on behaviour in mice as the critical toxicological endpoint and applied margin of exposure methodology to assess European dietary exposure using over 6,000 food analytical results. The assessment concluded that current dietary exposure to HBCDDs across European countries does not raise a health concern, except potentially for breastfed infants with high milk consumption.
Regional applicability
The assessment directly applies to United Kingdom food safety and dietary exposure, as it was conducted by EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) covering European populations and food supply. Post-Brexit, UK regulatory agencies continue to use EFSA assessments as reference points; however, UK-specific monitoring data and dietary patterns may differ slightly from EU-wide estimates, particularly for breastfed infant exposure through milk.
Key measures
LOAEL (0.9 mg/kg body weight), body burden (0.75 mg/kg bw), chronic dietary intake (2.35 μg/kg bw per day), margin of exposure (MOE), HBCDD concentrations in fish, eggs, meat and poultry, dietary exposure estimates by age group and country
Outcomes reported
The study updated the 2011 EFSA risk assessment of hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDDs) in food, identifying neurodevelopmental effects in mice as critical toxicological endpoints and calculating margin of exposure (MOE) values across European dietary surveys. Exposure assessment across age groups and countries was conducted using over 6,000 analytical results for HBCDDs in food.
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