THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF 1,2-BIS(TRIBROMOPHENOXY)ETHANE IN MINK(MUSTELA VISON)ByStephanie Smith-EdwardsBrominated flame retardants (BFRs) have been incorporated into a variety of consumer productsfor several years. Demonstration of BFRs in the environment, wildlife and humans hasprompted concern for these emerging contaminants. Two of the commercialpolybrominateddiphenyl ether (PBDE) BFRs (octa-BDE and penta-BDE) is no longer beingproduced because of environmental concerns. As a result, the production and use of non-PBDEBFR alternatives, such as 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane (BTBPE), have increased. Itwas of interest to determine the sensitivity of mink, a sentinel wildlife species, to BTBPE, whichhas been detected in the environment. Forty adult female mink were fed one of fourdietscontaining 0, 0.02, 0.2 or 2.0 mgBTBPE/kg feed beginning prior to breeding. Females were bredto untreated males. At whelping and at 3 and 6 weeks of age, kits were counted and weighed. At6 weeks of age, a sample of weaned kits from each treatment group, as well as the adult females,were necropsied. Samples of plasma, liver, fat, lungs, and feces were processed for chemicalanalysis and thyroids were processed for histological assessment. Ten offspringper group weremaintained on their respective treatments through 7 months of age at which time the juvenilemink were necropsied and tissues processed as described above. The results of this study indicatethat exposure to BTPE at dietary concentrations up to 2.0 mg/kg feed had no effect on thereproductive performance of mink and the survivability and growth of their offspring.
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