Concentration of novel brominated flame retardants and HBCD in leachates and sediments from selected municipal solid waste landfill sites in Gauteng Province, South Africa

Abstract

In this study leachate and sediment samples were collected from six municipal solid waste landfill sites across Gauteng Province in South Africa to determine the levels of 2-ethylhexyl 2,3,4,5 tetrabromobenzoate (EH-TBB), 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy) ethane (BTBPE), decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), bis(2-ethylhexyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrabromo-phthalate (BEH-TEBP) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD). Soxhlet as well as liquid–liquid extraction were employed for sediment and leachates respectively followed by GC–EIMS analysis. Concentrations of novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) ranged from below detection (<dl)–310ngg−1 and <dl–142pgL−1 for sediment and leachate samples while percentage proportions of detected NBFRs and HBCD analytes in leachate samples was observed to be approximately 64%, 22%, 9% and 5% for TBB, ∑HBCD, BTBPE and TBPH respectively. Frequency of detection was lower in sediment (<20–50%) compared to leachate (75–100%) samples. Decabromodiphenyl ethane levels in sediment and leachate samples were found below the limit of quantitation. A positive correlation with NBFRs was, however, observed with some water quality parameters except for sulphate.