The chemical compound PBDE, commonly used as a flame retardant, is pronounced "pee-bee-dee-ee" [piː ˌbiː diː ˈiː]. Its spelling follows the standard English practice of using letters to represent the sounds of the spoken word. The letters "P" and "B" represent the sounds of the consonants /p/ and /b/ respectively, while "D" and "E" represent the consonant sound /d/ and the vowel sound /iː/. The single dot above the letter "e" signifies a long vowel sound.
PBDE stands for Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers. It is a class of chemical compounds that consist of brominated flame retardants. PBDE compounds are made up of a diphenyl ether backbone with varying numbers and positions of bromine atoms. These compounds are widely used to inhibit or delay the ignition and spread of fires, and can therefore be found in a range of consumer products, including electronics, furniture, textiles, and building materials.
PBDEs are divided into different congeners, specifically three main groups: penta-, octa-, and deca-BDE. The prefix refers to the number of bromine atoms in the compound. Penta-BDE and octa-BDE have been phased out in many countries due to concerns about their persistence in the environment and potential adverse health effects. However, deca-BDE is still used in certain products.
PBDEs are known to be persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that can bioaccumulate in living organisms, including humans. Research has shown that these compounds can have endocrine-disrupting properties and may interfere with thyroid function. Additionally, exposure to PBDEs has been associated with adverse effects on neurodevelopment, reproductive health, and the immune system. Due to these concerns, efforts have been made to regulate and reduce the production and use of PBDEs, promoting the substitution with safer flame retardants.