How do measured PBDE and HCBD levels in river fish compare to the European Environmental Quality Standards?

Ethel Eljarrat,Damià Barceló

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2017.09.011

Abstract

This study evaluates the current situation regarding PBDE and HBCD levels in different river fish species. We collected published data in the last five years in different countries around the world. These levels of pollution were compared with Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) for biota established by the European Directive in the field of water policy. Although HBCD situation is not critical, with only some values exceeding the limit about 5 times, the PBDE levels clearly exceeded the established EQS, with 25% of fish samples exceeding up to ten thousand times. Although it is expected that levels of pollution by PBDEs will decrease over the next years due to the ban in their use, it is not expected that this decrease will reach the EQS values by the end of 2021, as demanded by the European Directive. Hence, it is necessary to implement new strategies in order to minimize the impact of PBDEs on the environment.

Highlights

Flame retardants (FRs) are a group of compounds which are added or applied to materials to increase their fire resistance
It is expected that levels of pollution by polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDEs) will decrease over the years due to the ban in their use, it is not expected that this decrease will reach the Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) values by the end of 2021, as demanded by the European Directive
Despite the ban of PBDEs in Europe since 2004, these pollutants are still present in virtually all European river fish

Summary

Introduction

Flame retardants (FRs) are a group of compounds which are added or applied to materials (plastics, furniture, vehicles, electronic devices ...) to increase their fire resistance. One of the most widely used FRs were polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which are typically produced at three different degrees of bromination, i.e., Penta-BDE, OctaBDE, and Deca-BDE commercial mixtures These compounds have a high lipophilicity (log Kow 5.98–9.97) and they can be bioaccumulated and biomagnified along the food chain (Eljarrat et al, 2007; Barón et al, 2014, 2015a). That strategy involves the identification of priority substances amongst those that pose a significant risk to, or via, the aquatic environment at Union level. This Directive established Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) in biota for some pollutants, such as PBDEs and HBCD. Some very hydrophobic substances, such as PBDEs and HBCD, accumulate in biota and are hardly detectable in water even using the most advanced analytical techniques. Additional measures to those already taken, including at international level must be promote to reduce or eliminate discharges, emissions and losses of those substances so as to achieve the established EQS

Data collection

Findings

Discussion