[Decabromobiphenyl : toxicological study (author's transl)].

The paper presents results of experimental studies on a polybrominated flame retardant. Decabromobiphenyl was found not to be irritant to the rabbit skin or eye. The oral and dermal LD 50' in the rat are greater than 5 g/kg. In a 90 days feeding trial in rats no toxic effect were demonstrated at the levels of 100 and 500 ppm. However, hepatic change occured with diet containing 2.000 ppm. In a 4 weeks dust inhalation study, the no effect level was between 0.005 and 0.05 mg/l of air. The higher concentrations induced hepatic changes. Decabromobiphenyl was not teratogenic or embryotoxic to the rat at 10, 100 and 1.000 mg/kg per os. There was no evidence to indicate that the compound has mutagenic potential. Comparing the toxicological profile of decabromobiphenyl with other polybrominated biphenyl flame retardants would indicate that the toxicity decreases when the number of bromine atoms is increased.