Characterizing novel brominated flame retardants in the coastal atmosphere of the northern Bohai and Yellow Seas

Abstract

To enrich knowledge concerning occurrence and behavior of novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) in the Chinese marine environment, a group of 11 NBFRs were measured in the atmosphere over the northern Bohai and Yellow Seas. Samples were taken downwind of the primary NBFR production and application areas in North China. The total NBFR air concentrations (ΣNBFRs) varied from 80.9 to 934 pg/m3, with decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) being the most abundant component. The high spatial variability of ΣNBFRs and relatively weak correlations among individual compounds indicated the diverse impact of anthropogenic activities in the coastal regions. The KOA-based absorption model predicted the distributions of low-mass NBFRs, while a steady state model was more applicable for heavier compounds such as DBDPE. The partitioning of NBFRs between the gas and particle phases were significantly related with octanal–air partition coefficient (KOA) only for the notable pollution locations, suggesting absorptive contribution to NBFR sorption. The resulting relationships characterized by event differences possibly pointed out the influences including the sources of NBFRs and aerosol particles, the continental impact, and the sorption kinetics on NBFR partitioning behaviors. Dry particle-bound deposition estimations indicated that the NBFR inputs to the sea from the air was significant.