Molecular mechanisms of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) toxicity: Insights from various biological systems

Abstract

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is a ubiquitous brominated flame retardant extensively incorporated into a wide range of products. As its utilization has escalated, its environmental exposure risks have concomitantly increased. The molecular properties of TBBPA allow it to persist in the environment and within organisms. In this review, we comprehensively examine the toxicity of TBBPA across different organ systems and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. We particularly emphasize TBBPA's impact on biological signaling pathways, protein functionality, cellular architecture, and epigenetic regulation, which collectively lead to disruptions in endocrine, hepatic, neurological, reproductive, and other biological systems. The analysis of these toxicological phenomena and their fundamental molecular mechanisms has substantially enhanced our understanding of TBBPA's hazardous characteristics. This review also examines potential avenues for future research, with a focus on uncovering novel molecular mechanisms and assessing the toxicological impacts of TBBPA exposure, particularly in relation to interactions with other environmental contaminants. We propose a greater focus on examining the toxic effects and molecular mechanisms of long-term TBBPA exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations to facilitate more accurate assessments of human health risks.

Keywords

• TBBPA
• Organisms and organ systems
• Toxic effects
• Molecular mechanisms