Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) as food contaminants

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) show similarities on their behavior in the environment with classical persistent organic pollutants, especially polychlorinated biphenyls. Therefore, their increasing levels reported for humans are based on their presence at elevated levels in various environmental matrices like food, dust or airborne particles. Since sources for human contamination with PBDEs are multiple, this material is based on reviewing the presence of these chemicals in food samples. The contribution of several food categories to human exposure to PBDEs was discussed with emphasis on dietary intake.