Historical trends of PBDEs and HBCDs in sediment cores from Sydney estuary, Australia.

This paper presents the first historical data on the occurrence of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDs) in estuarine sediment from Australia. Sediment cores and surficial sediment samples were collected from four locations within Sydney estuary, Australia. Large increases in concentrations were observed for all compounds between 1980 and 2014, especially for BDE-209 (representative usage of Deca-BDE commercial mixture), which was found in surficial sediment at an average concentration of 42 ng/g dry wt (21-65 ng/g dry wt). PBDE congeners representative of both the Penta- and Octa-BDE commercial mixtures (∑6PBDEs) were also found in their highest concentrations in surficial sediments (average: 1.3 ng/g dry wt; range: 0.65-2.5 ng/g dry wt). PBDE concentrations in surficial sediments were relatively high when compared with those presented in the available literature. This suggests that their input into the Sydney estuary has not decreased since their bans almost a decade earlier. After a sharp increase in the 1990s, HBCD concentrations peaked at an average of 3.5 ng/g dry wt (1.8-5.3 ng/g dry wt) in surficial samples. With global legislation on HBCDs allowing its usage for the next 10 years, it is expected that its input into the estuary is likely to continue.

Drage D ，Mueller JF ，Birch G ，Eaglesham G ，Hearn LK ，Harrad S ... -  《-》

Distribution of PBDEs, HBCDs and PCBs in the Brisbane River estuary sediment.

To date, very little or no data exist in literature for some brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and polychlorinated biphenyls in Queensland sediments. These pollutants were measured in the sediments along the Brisbane River estuary. The target compounds were regularly detected in measurable concentrations: PBDEs=33.3-97.8% (n=45), PCBs=94.1-100% (n=51) and HBCDs=79-98% (n=48). Consistently, >90% of the observed ∑8PBDE concentration was attributed to BDE-209. Mean PBDE levels (ng/g dry wt.) were: 4.4±3.2 (∑8PBDE) and 4.4±3.0 (BDE-209) across 22 sampling sites. The mean ∑7PCB and ∑HBCD were 5.4±4.5 and 1.0±1.5ng/g dry wt. respectively. The 25% (α-HBCD), 8% (β-HBCD) and 67% (γ-HBCD) diastereoisomer contributions observed were consistent with values reported in the literature. Contaminant levels are fairly distributed along the River and were generally low compared to similar studies around the world.

Anim AK ，Drage DS ，Goonetilleke A ，Mueller JF ，Ayoko GA ... -  《-》

Spatial variations in the levels and isomeric patterns of PBDEs and HBCDs in the European eel in Flanders.

Pooled yellow eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) samples, consisting of 3-10 eels, from 50 locations collected in the period 2000-2006 were used to assess the pollution with PBDEs and HBCDs in Flemish waters (Belgium). Results from this monitoring network are presented and the spatial aspect throughout Flanders is included, linking POP levels to the industrial characteristics of the different sampling locations. The following PBDE congeners were measured using GC/MS: 28, 47, 49, 66, 85, 99, 100, 153, 154, 183 and 209. Concentrations of summation sigmaPBDE ranged between 10 and 5811 ng/g lipid weight (lw) with a median value of 81 ng/glw. BDE 47 dominated the PBDE profile in the majority of the eel samples, except for six samples, in which BDE 209 was the dominating congener. These latter samples are probably associated with recent exposure to the Deca-BDE mixture. Three HBCD diastereoisomers (alpha-, beta- and gamma-HBCD) were measured using LC/MS-MS. summation sigmaHBCDs ranged between 16 and 4397 ng/glw, with a median value of 73 ng/glw. alpha-HBCD was the dominant isomer in all eel samples. Sediment concentrations of PBDEs were available from four locations and were used to compare the PBDE profile with those in eel. An important shift in the profile was observed, especially for BDE 209. While BDE 209 was only found in 12 eel samples, it was the dominant congener in all sediment samples. This could be due to its metabolisation or degradation in biota combined with the poor uptake of BDE 209 from sediments and its very low water solubility. No HBCDs were detected in any of the sediment samples. No significant correlation could be found between concentrations of PBDEs in eel and sediment from the same location. Comparison with previous studies shows that PBDE and HBCD levels in Flemish eels have decreased rapidly between 2000 and 2006 at particular sites, but alarming concentrations can still be found at industrialized hot spots. This finding is reflected in the human exposure to PBDEs and HBCDs through eel consumption. For average consumers (2.9 geel/day), intakes ranged between 3 and 2295 ng/day for summation sigmaPBDEs (with a median value of 16 ng/day) and between 3 and 1110 ng/day for summation sigmaHBCDs (with a median value of 18 ng/day), respectively. Additionally, human intakes were calculated for recreational fishermen, eating up to 12 g or 86 geel/day. Intakes of those risk groups were higher in comparison with average consumers and were above reference doses described in literature which may induce adverse effects.

Roosens L ，Geeraerts C ，Belpaire C ，Van Pelt I ，Neels H ，Covaci A ... -  《-》

Hexabromocyclododecanes, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and polychlorinated biphenyls in radiometrically dated sediment cores from English lakes, ~1950-present.

This paper reports input fluxes between ~1950 and present, of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) in radiometrically-dated sediment cores from 7 English lakes. Fluxes of PCBs at all but one location prone to significant sediment resuspension peaked in the late-1960s/early-1990s, before declining thereafter. Input fluxes of HBCDs at all sites increased from first emergence in the mid-1960s. Thereafter, fluxes peaked in the late-1980s/early-2000s, before declining through to the present, except at the most urban site where HBCD fluxes are still increasing. Trends of PBDEs predominant in the Penta-BDE and Octa-BDE formulations vary between sites. While at some locations, fluxes peaked in the late-1990s/early-2000s; at others, fluxes are still increasing. This suggests the full impact of EU restrictions on these formulations has yet to be felt. Fluxes of BDE-209 have yet to peak at all except one location, suggesting little discernible environmental response to recent EU restrictions on the Deca-BDE product. Strikingly, fluxes of BDE-209 in the most recent core slices either exceed or approach peak fluxes of ΣPCBs, implying substantial UK use of Deca-BDE. Excepting HBCDs, inventories of our target contaminants correlated significantly with local population density, implying substantial urban sources.

Yang C ，Rose NL ，Turner SD ，Yang H ，Goldsmith B ，Losada S ，Barber JL ，Harrad S ... -  《-》

Spatial distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and hexabromocyclododecanes in sediments from coastal waters of Korea.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) were determined in surface sediments collected from 24 coastal locations in Korea. The concentrations of summation operatorPBDEs (defined as the sum of all targeted PBDE congeners except for BDE-209) and BDE-209 ranged from 0.05 to 32 ng g(-1) dry wt. and from 0.40 to 98 ng g(-1) dry wt., respectively. The PBDE congener compositions were dominated by BDE-209, which is in accordance with the consumption of decaBDE mixture in Korea. HBCD concentrations ranged from 0.39 to 59 ng g(-1) dry wt. Concentrations of PBDEs and HBCDs were found to be higher near locations with industrial complexes and harbors, associating these compounds to urbanization and industrialization. Significant positive correlations between PBDE and HBCD concentrations and organic carbon content in sediments imply the role played by organic matter in the contaminant transport and trapping in the aquatic environment.

Ramu K ，Isobe T ，Takahashi S ，Kim EY ，Min BY ，We SU ，Tanabe S ... -  《-》