Vol. 119, No. 8 CorrespondenceOpen AccessNeurotoxicity of PBDEs on the Developing Nervous Systemis accompanied byNeurotoxicity of Brominated Flame Retardants: (In)direct Effects of Parent and Hydroxylated Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers on the (Developing) Nervous Systemis companion ofNeurotoxicity of PBDEs: Dingemans et al. Respond Marek Banasik and Dominika Suchecka Marek Banasik Search for more papers by this author and Dominika Suchecka Search for more papers by this author Published:1 August 2011https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1103907Cited by:2AboutSectionsPDF ToolsDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InReddit Dingemans et al. (2011) published a review article on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and the developing nervous system. However, the authors summarized but failed to critically evaluate the articles cited in their review. They also did not discuss or cite literature that contradicted the studies on which they based their conclusions. For example, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cosponsored an expert panel on neurodevelopmental end points, which concluded that an experimental design used in nine of the studies cited by Dingemans et al. (2011) failed to control for litter effects (Holson et al. 2008).Although some investigators have set forth the argument that direct dosing of pups precludes the need to control for litter effects, a U.S. EPA cosponsored expert panel (Moser et al. 2005) evaluated this issue and concluded otherwise.Regardless of whether Dingemans et al. (2011) view the studies by Holson et al. (2008) and Moser et al. (2005) as credible, the authors should have discussed them to some degree. It is understandable that because of space limitations not all studies can be included in a review. However, it was unacceptable to exclude studies that carry the weight of U.S. EPA cosponsored expert panels or other reviews that critically evaluated many of the studies cited by Dingemans et al. (2011) (e.g., Goodman 2009; Hardy et al. 2009; Williams and DeSesso 2010) and came to opposite conclusions.Although the article by Dingemans et al. (2011) was peer-reviewed, it presents information in a selective, noncritical manner, which is best reserved for public relation pieces communicated in the non–peer-reviewed media.In the past, M.B. received honoraria totaling $2,000.00 from Albemarle Corporation for his contribution to studies on brominated flame retardants; he received no form of remuneration for this letter. D.S. declares she has no actual or potential competing financial interests.ReferencesDingemans MML, van den Berg M, Westerink RHS. 2011. Neurotoxicity of brominated flame retardants: (in-)direct effects of parent and hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers on the (developing) nervous system.Environ Health Perspect 119:900-907; doi: [Online 18 January 2011]doi:10.1289/ehp.100303521245014. Link, Google ScholarGoodman JE. 2009. Neurodevelopmental effects of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) and implications for the reference dose.Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 54(1):91-10419249332. Crossref, Medline, Google ScholarHardy ML, Banasik M, Stedeford T. 2009. Toxicology and human health assessment of decabromodiphenyl ether.Crit Rev Toxicol 39(suppl 3):1-4419874087. Crossref, Medline, Google ScholarHolson RR, Freshwater L, Maurissen JPJ, Moser VC, Phang W. 2008. Statistical issues and techniques appropriate for developmental neurotoxicity testing: a report from the ILSI Research Foundation/Risk Science Institute expert working group on neurodevelopmental endpoints.Neurotoxicol Teratol 30(4):326-34817681748. Crossref, Medline, Google ScholarMoser VC, Walls I, Zoetis T. 2005. Direct dosing of preweaning rodents in toxicity testing and research: deliberations of an ILSI RSI Expert Working Group.Int J Toxicol 24(2):87-9416036767. Crossref, Medline, Google ScholarWilliams AL, DeSesso JM. 2010. The potential of selected brominated flame retardants to affect neurological development.J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev 13(5):411-44820582854. Crossref, Medline, Google ScholarFiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited by Stojić N, Štrbac S and Prokić D (2019) Soil Pollution and Remediation Handbook of Environmental Materials Management, 10.1007/978-3-319-73645-7_81, (583-616), . Stojić N, Štrbac S and Prokić D (2018) Soil Pollution and Remediation Handbook of Environmental Materials Management, 10.1007/978-3-319-58538-3_81-1, (1-34), . Related articlesNeurotoxicity of Brominated Flame Retardants: (In)direct Effects of Parent and Hydroxylated Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers on the (Developing) Nervous System18 January 2011Environmental Health PerspectivesNeurotoxicity of PBDEs: Dingemans et al. Respond1 August 2011Environmental Health Perspectives Vol. 119, No. 8 August 2011Metrics About Article Metrics Publication History Originally published1 August 2011Published in print1 August 2011 Financial disclosuresPDF download License information EHP is an open-access journal published with support from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health. All content is public domain unless otherwise noted. Note to readers with disabilities EHP strives to ensure that all journal content is accessible to all readers. However, some figures and Supplemental Material published in EHP articles may not conform to 508 standards due to the complexity of the information being presented. If you need assistance accessing journal content, please contact [email protected]. Our staff will work with you to assess and meet your accessibility needs within 3 working days.