Tetrabromobisphenol A

MAK Value Documentation – Translation of the German version from 2023

  Andrea Hartwig¹ (Chair of the Permanent Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)
  MAK Commission<sup>2

1</sup> Institute of Applied Biosciences, Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Adenauerring 20a, Building 50.41, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
² Permanent Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Kennedyallee 40, 53175 Bonn, Germany

Abstract

The German Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area (MAK Commission) has evaluated the data for tetrabromobisphenol A [79-94-7] considering all toxicological end points. Relevant studies were identified from a literature search, epidemiological studies of tetrabromobisphenol A are not available. After repeated administration by gavage, the target organs of toxicity were the endocrine system in male and female rats with decreased total T4 concentrations and the kidneys in male mice with cytoplasmic changes in the tubules. Tetrabromobisphenol A induces uterine tumours in female Wistar-Han rats and hepatoblastomas and haemangiosarcomas in male B6C3F1/N mice. Due to its non-genotoxic mechanism of action, it is assumed that a NAEL (no adverse effect level) can be determined for carcinogenic effects. Therefore, tetrabromobisphenol A could be classified in Carcinogen Category 4. However, there are no data that can be used to establish a NOAEL for atypical hyperplasia (preneoplasia) in the endometrium, to clarify whether the observed uterine tumours are specific to the strain, and to further characterize the mechanism of tumourigenesis. Therefore, a maximum concentration at the workplace (MAK value) cannot be established and tetrabromobisphenol A has been classified in Carcinogen Category 2 and given the footnote “Prerequisite for Category 4 in principle fulfilled, but insufficient data available for the establishment of a MAK or BAT value”. Tetrabromobisphenol A is not mutagenic in bacteria or clastogenic in mammalian cells. In vivo data do not provide evidence of genotoxic effects in soma cells, even at concentrations that cause systemic toxicity. In vivo studies suggest that transdermal uptake may be relevant. As tetrabromobisphenol A has been classified as a Category 2 carcinogen and no threshold for the carcinogenic effects can be established at present, the substance has provisionally been designated with “H”. Data for humans, animals and from in vitro studies show no sensitizing potential.

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