Brominated phenols (BPs) of anthropogenic origin are aromatic substances widely used in the industry as flame retardants (FRs) and pesticides as well as the components of FRs and polymers. In this review, we have focused on describing 2,4-dibromophenol (2,4-DBP), 2,4,6-tribromophenol (2,4,6-TBP) and pentabromophenol (PBP), which are the most commonly used in the industry and are the most often detected in the air, aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and the human body. This review describes human-related sources of these BPs that influence their occurrence in the environment (atmosphere, surface water, sediment, soil, biota), indoor air and dust, food, drinking water and the human organism. Data from in vitro and in vivo studies showing 2,4-DBP, 2,4,6-TBP and PBP toxicity, including their estrogenic activity, effects on development and reproduction, perturbations of cellular redox balance and cytotoxic action have been described. Moreover, the processes of BPs transformation that occur in human and other mammals, plants and bacteria have been discussed. Finally, the effect of abiotic factors (e.g. UV irradiation and temperature) on BPs conversion to highly toxic brominated dioxins and brominated furans as well as polybrominated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers has been presented.

人为来源的溴化酚 (BPs) 是工业上广泛用作阻燃剂 (FRs) 和杀虫剂以及阻燃剂和聚合物的成分的芳香物质。在这篇综述中，我们重点介绍了最常用的 2,4-二溴苯酚 (2,4-DBP)、2,4,6-三溴苯酚 (2,4,6-TBP) 和五溴苯酚 (PBP)。在工业中，最常在空气、水生和陆地生态系统以及人体中检测到。这篇综述描述了这些 BP 的人类相关来源，这些来源会影响它们在环境（大气、地表水、沉积物、土壤、生物群）、室内空气和灰尘、食物、饮用水和人体有机体中的发生。来自体外和体内的数据已经描述了显示 2,4-DBP、2,4,6-TBP 和 PBP 毒性的研究，包括它们的雌激素活性、对发育和繁殖的影响、细胞氧化还原平衡的扰动和细胞毒性作用。此外，还讨论了人类和其他哺乳动物、植物和细菌中发生的 BPs 转化过程。最后，介绍了非生物因素（如紫外线照射和温度）对 BPs 转化为剧毒溴化二恶英和溴化呋喃以及多溴联苯和多溴联苯醚的影响。