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There are 209 different types (congeners) of PBDEs. They all have the same basic structure: two benzene rings (di phenyl) connected by an oxygen (ether); they differ in the number and position of the bromines. The congeners are known by both congener number and their IUPAC name. The latter shows the position of the bromines, as shown in the figure.

Here are the congener numbers and IUPAC names for some of the more common PBDEs:

 Number          IUPAC Name

 BDE 17          2,2',4-Tribromodiphenyl ether

 BDE 28          2,4,4'-Tribromodiphenyl ether

 BDE 47          2,2',4,4'-Tetrabromodiphenyl ether

 BDE 66          2,3',4,4'-Tetrabromodiphenyl ether

 BDE 85          2,2',3,4,4'-Pentabromodiphenyl ether

 BDE 99          2,2',4,4',5-Pentabromodiphenyl ether

 BDE 100         2,2',4,4',6-Pentabromodiphenyl ether

 BDE 153         2,2',4,4',5,5'-Hexabromodiphenyl ether

 BDE 154         2,2',4,4',5,6'-Hexabromodiphenyl ether

 BDE 183         2,2',3,4,4',5',6-Heptabromodiphenyl ether

 BDE 209         Decabromodiphenyl ether

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