Flame Retardants in Wild Bird Eggs and in Relation to Eggs in the Human Food Supply

Flame retardants are a group of halogenated and nonhalogenated substances added to thermoplastics, textiles, building materials, electronics, and automobile parts to reduce their flammability. As a consequence of substantial, long-term use, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, the most widely used flame retardants, have exhibited global contamination in humans, wildlife, air, water, soil, and sediments, even in remote areas. Several studies worldwide have reported the exposure of wild or domestic birds and eggs to polybrominated diphenyl ethers. This chapter outlines recent progress in addressing the contamination and toxicological effects of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in wild bird eggs and in domesticated egg production. Through this effort, we aim to review: (1) toxicological effects of polybrominated diphenyl ethers on avian eggs and hatchlings; (2) spatial distribution and temporal trends of polybrominated diphenyl ethers contamination in wild bird eggs on an international scale; and (3) levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in eggs of the human food supply.