Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) degradation was investigated using white rot fungi (strains of the Trametes, Pleurotus, Bjerkandera and Dichomitus genera) and their oxidative enzymes. Laccase was used to prepare TBBPA metabolites 2,6-dibromo-4-(2-hydroxypropane-2-yl) phenol (1), 2,6-dibromo-4-(2-methoxypropane-2-yl) phenol (2) and 1-(3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxyphen-1-yl)-2,20,6,60-tetrabromo-4,40-isopropylidene diphenol (3).
Products 1 and 2 exhibited estrogenic effects, unlike TBBPA, but lower cell toxicity.