Assessment of risk posed by high levels of the brominated flame retardant hexabromocyclododecane in the Norwegian fjord Åsefjorden(BromRisk)

The brominated flame retardants (BFRs) have received considerable attention the last years because of their extensive use and presence in the environment. Hexabromocyclododecan (HBCD) is one of the most extensively used BFRs with an annual demand of appro ximately 17 000 metric tons. HBCD is fat soluble and persistent in the environment and recent studies have shown that this compound has become ubiquitously spread. The extensive use of HBCD as a flame retardant makes it crucial to control the environmenta l distribution, fate and toxicology of this compound. The Norwegian fjord Åsefjorden, near Ålesund, Møre og Romsdal county, has recently been highly contaminated with HBCD due to a local factory using it in the production of material for fire preventive p urposes. The knowledge of environmental fate and toxicology of HBCD is limited and the contamination of Åsefjorden presents a unique opportunity to study the environmental and toxicological properties of this extensively used compound. The main goal in th e proposed 3-years research project is to elucidate environmental fate and toxic aspects of the brominated flame retardant HBCD in a Norwegian fjord with a point source of this pollutant. The project will use new and innovative methods in toxicogenomics a nd recent advances in chemical analysis and provide new tools for the risk assessment of HBCD.