Banned pollutants continue to be a health threat in the MENA region, according to a recent study from the University of Sharjah.

The study in Environmental Research finds that polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) persist in the environment.

PBDEs are a class of human-made chemicals used as flame retardants in such products as electronics, household appliances, vehicles, furniture and upholstery. They have been largely banned or phased out worldwide.

“Across the Middle East and North Africa, environmental pollution is often discussed through visible pressures: urbanization, industrial expansion, water scarcity, waste management and rapid infrastructure growth,” says study lead Khaled Abass.

Less visible but increasingly important “is the persistence of legacy chemicals embedded in consumer products, electronic waste, sediments, soils and indoor environments,” he adds.

The study finds that PBDE contamination levels are especially elevated in industrialized and urban settings.

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