Contamination and bioaccumulation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in Gwangyang Bay, Korea

Abstract

Concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were determined in seawater, sediment and biota collected from Gwangyang Bay, Korea. Total concentrations of PBDEs in seawater and sediment ranged from 56.1 to 343 pg/L and from 1.16 to 43.6 ng/g dry weight, respectively. Total concentrations of PBDEs in edible tissue and liver samples ranged from 1.79 to 67.9 ng/g lipid weight and from 1.69 to 10.5 ng/g lipid weight, respectively. The concentrations of PBDEs in sediment measured in our study were moderate or lower than those reported for rivers and coasts from other countries. The highest concentrations of PBDEs in seawater and sediment were found at several stations near petrochemical and steel industrial complexes, suggesting industrial activities contributed to the PBDE contamination in the bay. The major congener of PBDEs in seawater and sediment was BDE 209, which is consistent with a consumption pattern of brominated-flame retardant market in Korea. Fish, bivalve and crustacean had different accumulation patterns of PBDEs, suggesting different diet, habitat and/or bioaccumulation behavior for PBDEs. The bioconcentration factors (BCFs) of all of the PBDE congeners ranged from 102 to 105. The BCFs of PBDE congeners in fish species increased as the octanol-water partition coefficient (Kow) was close to log Kow≈8, above which they decreased. Bivalves appeared slightly bioaccumulation potentials for higher-brominated congeners such as BDE 209 with a high log Kow. Our results suggest that Kow can be a major factor governing bioconcentration mechanism of PBDEs, with minor factor by habitat of target species.