Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are toxic chemicals that resist degradation and bioaccumulate. Despite attempts to limit the use and distribution of these chemicals, they are still widely detected in the environment. Schecter et al.

Production and use of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants has been reduced or eliminated because of concerns about health effects of these environmentally persistent compounds, but hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) flame retardants are still in wide use. Schecter et al.