[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 99 (Monday, May 24, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28804-28805]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-12378]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9154-3; Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2008-0663]


An Exposure Assessment of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing 
the availability of a final report titled, ``An Exposure Assessment of 
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers'' (EPA/600/R-08/086F). This document was 
prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) 
within EPA's Office of Research and Development in support of 
objectives identified in EPA's 2006 Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers 
(PBDEs) Project Plan. This document

[[Page 28805]]

provides an assessment of the exposure of Americans to polybrominated 
diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a class of brominated flame retardants. It 
includes chapters on use and production of PBDEs, environmental fate, 
environmental and exposure media concentrations, and an exposure 
assessment including background exposures and exposures to special 
populations.

DATES: The document will be available on or about May 24, 2010.

ADDRESSES: The report titled, ``An Exposure Assessment of 
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers'' (EPA/600/R-08/086F) will be available 
primarily via the Internet on the NCEA home page under the Recent 
Additions and Publications menus at http://www.epa.gov/ncea. A limited 
number of paper copies are available from the Information Management 
Team (Address: Information Management Team, National Center for 
Environmental Assessment (Mail Code: 8601P), U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; 
telephone: 703-347-8561; facsimile: 703-347-8691). If you request a 
paper copy, please provide your name, mailing address, and the document 
title, ``An Exposure Assessment of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers'' 
(EPA/600/R-08/086F).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information, contact Mr. 
Matthew Lorber, NCEA; telephone: 703-347-8535; facsimile: 703-347-8692; 
or e-mail: lorber.matthew@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Information About the Document

    This document provides an assessment of the exposure of Americans 
to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a class of brominated flame 
retardants. The use of PBDEs as flame retardants in products associated 
with the indoor environment has led to exposures primarily associated 
with indoor dust. This exposure pattern differs from other persistent 
organic pollutants, such as dioxins and PCBs, where exposure is 
dominated by food ingestion. Human biomonitoring data indicate blood 
levels of PBDEs in the United States are higher than those measured in 
other parts of the world. Intake doses, expressed on a body weight 
basis, are highest for infants who breast feed and higher for children 
compared with those for adults.
    In December 2008, the draft report was released for independent 
external review, and a Federal Register notice published on December 4, 
2008, announced the start of a public review and comment period. This 
final report addresses comments received from both the external peer 
review panel and the public.

    Dated: May 3, 2010.
Rebecca Clark,
Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 2010-12378 Filed 5-21-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P