As the metabolites of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), tetrabromobisphenol A mono- and di-methyl ethers (TBBPA MME and TBBPA DME) have been detected in various environmental media. However, knowledge of the contribution of plants to their environmental fates, especially to the interactions between TBBPA DME and TBBPA, is quite limited. In this study, the metabolism and behaviors of TBBPA DME was studied with pumpkin plants through 15-day hydroponic exposure. The TBBPA were also studied separately using in-lab hydroponic exposure for comparison. The results showed that more TBBPA DME accumulated in pumpkin roots and translocated up to stems and leaves compared with TBBPA. Transformation of TBBPA DME occurred later and more slowly than that of TBBPA. Interconversion between TBBPA DME and TBBPA was verified in intact plants for the first time. Namely, TBBPA DME can be biotransformed to TBBPA MME (transformation ratio in mole mass, TRMM 0.50%) and to TBBPA (TRMM 0.53%) within pumpkin; and TBBPA can be biotransformed to TBBPA MME (TRMM 0.58%) and to TBBPA DME (TRMM 0.62%). In addition, two single benzene-ring metabolites, 2,6-dibromo-4-(2-(2-hydroxyl)-propyl)-anisole (DBHPA, TRMM 3.4%) with an O-methyl group and 2,6-dibromo-4-(2-(2-hydroxyl)-propyl)-phenetole (DBHPP, TRMM 0.57%) with an O-ethyl group, were identified as the transformation products in the TBBPA exposure experiments. The transformation and interconversion from TBBPA DME back to TBBPA is reported as a new pathway and potential source for TBBPA in the environment.

作为四溴双酚A（TBBPA）的代谢物，已在各种环境介质中检测到四溴双酚A单和二甲基醚（TBBPA MME和TBBPA DME）。但是，关于植物对环境命运，特别是对TBBPA DME和TBBPA之间相互作用的贡献的知识非常有限。在这项研究中，通过15天的水耕暴露，研究了南瓜植物对TBBPA DME的代谢和行为。还使用实验室内的水培暴露对TBBPA进行了单独研究以进行比较。结果表明，与TBBPA相比，更多的TBBPA DME积累在南瓜的根中并转移到茎和叶。与TBBPA相比，TBBPA DME的转化发生得更晚且更慢。首次在完整植物中验证了TBBPA DME和TBBPA之间的相互转化。即 可以在南瓜中将TBBPA DME生物转化为TBBPA MME（摩尔质量转化率，TRMM为0.50％）和为TBBPA（TRMM为0.53％）；可以将TBBPA生物转化为TBBPA MME（TRMM 0.58％）和TBBPA DME（TRMM 0.62％）。此外，还有两个单一的苯环代谢物，即2,6-二溴-4-（2-（2-羟基）-丙基）-茴香醚（DBHPA，TRMM 3.4％），ø -甲基组和2,6-二溴-4-（2-（2-羟基） -丙基）-phenetole（DBHPP，TRMM 0.57％）与ø -乙基基团，被鉴定为转化的产品在TBBPA曝光实验。据报道，从TBBPA DME到TBBPA的转化和相互转化是环境中TBBPA的新途径和潜在来源。