Total Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers Research Articles

Smoked fish products available in European markets: Human exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers and their metabolites

Food safety is continuously threatened by numerous contaminants including those originated from environmental pollution, such as PolyBrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs). In the present study, PBDEs and their biologically active metabolites – the methoxylated PBDEs (MeO-PBDEs) – were determined in several smoked seafood products (N = 30) acquired in the European market. The analyses were performed by an environmental-friendly method comprising a “Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe” (QuEChERS)-based extraction followed by gas chromatography (tandem) mass spectrometry.At least one congener of each class of these flame retardants were detected in 80% of the samples assessed herein. Whenever above the limits of quantification, total PBDEs ranged from 0.21 to 64.49 μg kg−1, while MeO-PBDEs varied between 1.14 and 163.48 μg kg−1, on a wet weight basis. All smoked cod liver samples presented the highest degree of contamination, where a 100 g portion represented 12% of the PBDEs provisional tolerable weekly intake, as defined by the European food safety authority. Additionally, all tolerable daily intake percentages were below 0.2%, thus indicating no cause for concern for individuals exposed to PBDEs through consumption of smoked seafood products. Finally, multivariate partial least squares regression clarified the relationship between product characteristics and instrumental data, allowing to understand which variables caused greater influence on the contamination level of smoked products.

Disruption of thyroid hormone levels by decabrominated diphenyl ethers (BDE-209) in occupational workers from a deca-BDE manufacturing plant

While there is some evidence that exposure to decabrominated diphenyl ethers (BDE-209) affects thyroid function, the results obtained to date have been inconsistent. No studies have been performed on workers in deca-BDE manufacturing who had a high level of exposure to BDE-209 and relatively little exposure to other contaminants. In the present study, the relationship between BDE-209 exposure and thyroid hormone in occupational workers from a deca-BDE manufacturing plant was investigated. The serum and urine levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and serum thyroid hormones were measured in 72 workers recruited from the deca-BDE manufacturing plant. The associations between their thyroid hormone levels and their exposure to BDE-209 were examined using multiple linear regression models. Serum concentrations of BDE-209 ranged from 67.4 to 109,000 ng/g lipid weight (lw), with a median of 3420 ng/g lw, contributing to 93.1% of the total PBDEs. The concentration of BDE-209 in urine was highly correlated with that in the serum (r2 = 0.440, p < 0.001), indicating that urine may be a good non-invasive biomonitoring medium of BDE-209 body burden in occupational workers. BDE-209 in the serum was significantly and positively correlated with total thyroxine (tT4, r = 0.270, p = 0.029) and marginally and positively correlated with total triiodothyronine (tT3, r = 0.232, p = 0.061) in all occupational workers after adjusting for gender, age, BMI, and occupational exposure duration. A 10-fold increase in the serum BDE-209 concentration was associated with an increase in tT4 (8.63 nmol/L) [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.930–16.3] and tT3 (0.106 nmol/L) [95% confidence interval (CI): −0.005-0.219], corresponding to the increase of 7.8% in tT4 level and 5.4% in tT3 level. Associations between urine BDE-209 levels and thyroid hormones were similar to the results for the serum levels. These findings offer new evidence for proving the thyroid disrupting effects of BDE-209, impacting the direction of hyperthyroidism.

Characterization of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in various aqueous samples in Taiwan

In this study, 20 groundwater samples and 7 surface water samples were collected and analyzed by HRGC-HRMS to evaluate the levels, congener distributions, and dissolved/solid partitioning of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in water matrix as well as the removal efficiency of a typical water treatment plant (WTP). The results indicated that the level of PBDEs concentrations ranging from 18.51 to 4212 pg/L and 30.24 to 1021 pg/L were found in groundwater and surface water, respectively. BDE-209 predominated and contributed over 90% of total PBDEs concentrations for all samples analyzed. In addition, the dissolved/solid distribution indicated that 60–80% of PBDEs were measured in solid phase. 97% of total PBDEs was removed in a WTP. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis was conducted for groundwater samples and the results indicated that 3% and 41% of PBDEs were attributed to octa and deca-BDEs commercial mixtures, respectively, while 56% resulted from anaerobic microorganism debromination process. Understanding the PBDEs occurrences, distribution and debromination process as well as their removal efficiency of water treatment plant could provide valuable information on the fate of those compounds in environment.

Sublethal or not? Responses of multiple biomarkers in Daphnia magna to single and joint effects of BDE-47 and BDE-209

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are extremely incessant anthropogenic contaminants found in the environment, with dreadful risk to aquatic ecosystems. However, there is a limited amount of data concerning their impacts on freshwater organisms. 2,2′,3,3′,4,4′,5,5′,6,6′-decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) and 2,2′,4,4′-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) are significant components of total PBDEs in water. The sublethal effects of BDE-47, BDE-209 and their binary mixtures on the aquatic organism Daphnia magna were investigated in acute and chronic exposure experiments. Immobilization and heartbeat were studied in daphnids after 48 h of exposure. Mortality rate, breed number, Cholinesterase (ChE), Glutathione S-transferases (GST) and Catalase (CAT) activities were evaluated after 21 days of exposure. The results showed that at 100 and 200 μg/L concentration of BDE-47, immobilization rate of daphnids were inhibited by 44.0 ± 16.7% and 88.0 ± 10.9%, respectively. The binary mixture of BDE-47 and BDE-209 had uncongenial effects on immobilization of D. magna under acute toxicity test. BDE-209 significantly increased the heartbeat rate of daphnids, which increased even further when combined with BDE-47. After 21 days of exposure, daphnids exposed to single BDE-47 were physiologically altered. The combination of BDE-47 with BDE-209 significantly decreased the mortality rate of daphnids. Irrespective of the concentration, higher numbers of offsprings were produced in the mixtures compared to BDE-47 treatment alone. ChE activities significantly (p < 0.05) decreased at concentrations of 2 and 4 μg/L in single BDE-47 treatment, while GST activity significantly (p < 0.05) decreased at 0.5 μg/L. CAT activities significantly increased with BDE-47 treatments in all the tested concentrations (p < 0.05). The mixtures significantly affect ChE (p < 0.05), GST (p < 0.05) and CAT activities (p < 0.05). The results illustrated that the toxicity of the mixture of PBDE congeners exposed to aquatic organisms may have antagonistic effects. The 21 days chronic test in this study suggests that acute toxicity tests, i.e. 48-h tests, using Daphnia may lead to underestimation of risks associated with PBDEs, especially, BDE-209. Hence, there is a necessity to re-examine PBDE congeners’ environmental risk in aquatic organisms.

Association of In Utero Exposure to Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers With the Risk of Hypospadias

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are added to many consumer products as flame retardants, and their endocrine-disrupting properties are a growing health concern in pregnancy. To investigate whether in utero PBDE exposure as measured in maternal hair is associated with increased risk for hypospadias. In this case-control study, the setting was the urology clinic of a tertiary pediatric hospital between January 3, 2011, and April 1, 2013. Participants were children diagnosed as having hypospadias and their mothers and a control group of children without hypospadias and their mothers. Dates of data analysis were September 3, 2017, to December 28, 2017. Gestational exposure to 8 PBDEs as measured in the 3-cm segment closest to the skull of maternal hair by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy as a proxy for in utero exposure. The mothers resided in the same household for the duration of their pregnancy. Difference in total maternal hair PBDE levels between the hypospadias and control groups. Total PBDE levels were significantly higher among mothers of infants with hypospadias (n = 152) (total PBDE level, 51.4 pg/mg; interquartile range, 35.8-78.5 pg/mg) than among controls (n = 64) (total PBDE level, 35.8 pg/mg; interquartile range, 18.1-69.9 pg/mg) (P = .02). Of the 152 women with sufficient hair samples for analysis in the case group, 89 completed a questionnaire and were included in a multivariable analysis, and of the 64 women with sufficient hair samples for analysis in the control group, 54 completed a questionnaire and were included in a multivariable analysis. Adjusting for potential confounders, hypospadias was associated with a relative 48.2% (95% CI, 23.2%-65.4%) higher maternal level of total PBDE levels in the multivariable analysis. In this analysis, mothers of children with hypospadias were exposed during pregnancy to significantly higher levels of PBDEs. The results of this study suggest that level of exposure to PBDEs during gestation may have a role in the etiology of hypospadias.

Past and recent state of sediment contamination by persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the Rhône River: Overview of ecotoxicological implications

Twenty-one sediment samples were taken from five dated sediment cores collected along the Rhône River from 2008 to 2011. A total of 17 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), 7 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 8 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), 3 polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), 3 hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCD) and 31 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were investigated to provide information on deposition dynamics in time and space, but also regarding the ecotoxicological risks associated with these contaminants. Median concentrations of total PBDEs are nine times lower than the levels of total PCBs along the entire studied stretch of the Rhône River. The results show that total PBDEs concentrations range from 0.06 to 239 μg·kg−1 DW with a median value of 3.81 μg·kg−1 DW and a maximum concentration measured in the years 2000s. These maximum concentrations are identical to those measured for total PCBs at the end of the 1990s, but show a different pattern of distribution. Abnormal dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) levels were also detected in the downstream section of the river, with a peak concentration of 147.5 μg·kg−1 DW measured at the GEC site from 2005 onwards. Analyses of the enantiomeric fractions reveal a fresh input resulting from a technical formulation. Sediments from the core sampled at the most downstream site (GEC) are found to be highly toxic to organisms living nearby, particularly because of the total PCDD/Fs, DDE and DDT levels. In addition, based on available sediment quality guidelines, there may be a potential bioaccumulation risk for humans not only for these three compounds of concern but also for total PCBs and 7 out of the 8 analysed PBDEs.

Dietary exposure to a binary mixture of polybrominated diphenyl ethers alters innate immunity and disease susceptibility in juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been used as flame retardants in consumer products and are now found in the aquatic environment. The presence of PBDEs puts the health and survival of aquatic species at risk due to the various toxic effects associated with exposure to these compounds. The effects of a binary dietary mixture of PBDEs on innate immunity and disease susceptibility of juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) were examined in the present study. Salmon were fed roughly 1:1 mixtures of two environmentally predominant PBDE congeners, BDE-47 and BDE-99. The six resulting whole body total PBDE concentrations ranged from less than the limit of quantification to 184 ng/g, wet weight (ww). The innate immune system was assessed by using two in vitro macrophage function assays. Specifically, assays that examined the ability of head kidney macrophages to: (1) engulf sheep red blood cells (SRBCs); and (2) produce a respiratory burst, as determined by the production of a reactive oxygen species, superoxide anion. Macrophages from salmon fed the BDE-47/99 mixture diets engulfed more SRBCs and produced greater superoxide anion than salmon fed the control diet. An increase in macrophage function was observed in fish with whole body total PBDE concentrations ranging from 2.81 ng/g, ww to 184 ng/g, ww. The mechanism for this increase in macrophage function due to PBDE exposure is currently unknown, but may be due to the ability of PBDEs to act as an endocrine receptor agonist and/or antagonist. Salmon exposed to the BDE-47/99 mixture diets were also challenged with the pathogenic bacteria, Vibrio (Listonella) anguillarum to determine disease susceptibility. Kaplan-Meier survival curves of fish exposed to the BDE-47/99 mixture and control diets were significantly different. The Cox proportional hazard risk ratios of disease-induced mortality in juvenile Chinook salmon with whole body concentrations of total PBDEs of 10.9, 36.8, and 184 ng/g, ww were significantly greater than the fish fed the control diet by 1.56, 1.83 and 1.50 times, respectively. Not all concentrations of the binary mixture diets had significant hazard ratios relative to the control diet, due to a non-monotonic concentration response curve. The mixture of PBDE congeners resulted in interactive effects that were generally non-additive and dependent upon the congener concentrations and metric examined. Consequently, predicting the interactive effects in juvenile Chinook salmon exposed to mixtures of PBDE congeners on innate immunity and disease susceptibility cannot be readily determined from the adverse effects of individual PBDE congeners.

Adipose tissue levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and breast cancer risk in Chinese women: A case–control study

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are suspected to be associated with breast cancer risk because of their estrogenic potencies. Epidemiological studies of PBDEs and breast cancer are scarce. Our study aimed to estimate the association between adipose-tissue PBDE concentrations and breast cancer risk. A total of 209 breast cancer cases and 165 controls were recruited from hospitals between January 2014 and May 2016 in Shantou, Chaoshan area, China. Concentrations of 14 PBDE congeners were measured in adipose tissues obtained from the breast for cases and the abdomen/breast for controls during surgery. Demographic and clinicopathologic characteristics were obtained from medical records. Breast cancer risk as well as clinicopathologic characteristics were evaluated by adipose-tissue PBDE level. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for breast cancer risk associated with levels of PBDE congeners were estimated from logistic regression models for all cases and stratified by estrogen receptor (ER) status. Level of total PBDEs (∑PBDE) and most individual PBDE congeners were higher in breast cancer cases than controls (median ∑PBDE, 94.99 vs 73.72 ng/g lipid). In the adjusted univariate model for all cases, breast cancer risk was increased with both 2nd and 3rd tertiles versus the 1st tertile of BDE-47 level (OR 2.05 [95% CI 1.08–3.92]; 5.47 [2.96–10.11]) and BDE-209 level (2.48 [1.30–4.73]; 4.72 [2.52–8.83]) with trend (both P < 0.001) and with the 3rd tertile of BDE-28 level (2.83 [1.63–4.92]), BDE-99 (3.22 [1.85–5.60]), BDE-100 (5.45 [2.90–10.23]), BDE-138 (2.40 [1.37–4.20]), BDE-153 (1.74 [1.02–2.97]), BDE-154 (1.84 [1.05–3.22]), and ∑PBDE levels (1.83 [1.07–3.14]) but decreased with the 3rd tertile of BDE-71 level (0.38 [0.22–0.65]) with trend (all P < 0.01). After stratifying by ER-positive or -negative status, the adjusted results were similar for ER-positive patients except for BDE-153 and BDE-154, with no statistical significance. In the multivariate model for all cases, age, menarche age, BDE-47, 71, 99, 100, 183 and 209 were independent factors associated with breast-cancer risk. ∑PBDE and most individual PBDE congeners investigated were positively associated with breast cancer risk in women from the Chaoshan area, China. PBDE may play a role in the occurrence and development of breast cancer.

Time Trends of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in Antarctic Biota.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are “emerged” contaminants that were produced and used as flame retardants in numerous consumer and industrial applications for decades until banned. They remain ubiquitously present in the environment today. Here, a unique set of >200 biotic samples from the Antarctic was analyzed for PBDEs, including phytoplankton, krill, fish, and fur seal milk, spanning several sampling seasons over 14 years. PBDE-47 and -99 were the dominant congeners determined in all samples, constituting >60% of total PBDEs. A temporal trend was observed for ∑7PBDE concentrations in fur seal milk, where concentrations significantly increased (R2 = 0.57, p < 0.05) over time (2000–2014). Results for krill and phytoplankton also suggested increasing PBDE concentrations over time. Trends of PBDEs in fur seal milk of individual seals sampled 1 or more years apart showed no clear temporal trends. Overall, there was no indication of PBDEs decreasing in Antarctic biota yet, whereas numerous studies have reported decreasing trends in the northern hemisphere. Similar PBDE concentrations in perinatal versus nonperinatal milk implied the importance of local PBDE sources for bioaccumulation. These results indicate the need for continued assessment of contaminant trends, such as PBDEs, and their replacements, in Antarctica.

Examination of contaminant exposure and reproduction of ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) nesting in Delaware Bay and River in 2015

A study of ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) nesting in the coastal Inland Bays of Delaware, and the Delaware Bay and Delaware River in 2015 examined spatial and temporal trends in contaminant exposure, food web transfer and reproduction. Concentrations of organochlorine pesticides and metabolites, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), coplanar PCB toxic equivalents, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and other flame retardants in sample eggs were generally greatest in the Delaware River. Concentrations of legacy contaminants in 2015 Delaware Bay eggs were lower than values observed in the 1970s through early 2000s. Several alternative brominated flame retardants were rarely detected, with only TBPH [bis(2-ethylhexyl)-tetrabromophthalate)] present in 5 of 27 samples at <5 ng/g wet weight. No relation was found between p,p′-DDE, total PCBs or total PBDEs in eggs with egg hatching, eggs lost from nests, nestling loss, fledging and nest success. Osprey eggshell thickness recovered to pre-DDT era values, and productivity was adequate to sustain a stable population. Prey fish contaminant concentrations were generally less than those in osprey eggs, with detection frequencies and concentrations greatest in white perch (Morone americana) from Delaware River compared to the Bay. Biomagnification factors from fish to eggs for p,p′-DDE and total PCBs were generally similar to findings from several Chesapeake Bay tributaries. Overall, findings suggest that there have been improvements in Delaware Estuary waterbird habitat compared to the second half of the 20th century. This trend is in part associated with mitigation of some anthropogenic contaminant threats.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in core sediments from creek ecosystem: occurrence, geochronology, and source contribution.

The levels of 15 polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners in grab sediment and sediment cores from the Thane creek were monitored for their spatial and temporal distribution. Total PBDE (ΣPBDE) concentrations in grab sediments were ranging from 15.98 to 132.72ngg-1 dry weight. BDE-209 was the most abundant congener with percentage contribution in the range of 19-35% to total PBDEs. Total PBDE show multimode concentration with depth in sediment, among which mode at a depth of 10cm is predominant. Results of sediment core also indicates PBDEs were enormously used in last two decades in surrounding area. Sedimentation rate at the creek was also evaluated using Pb210 dating technique. Average percentage contribution of commercial penta-BDE (fP), octa-BDE (fO), and deca-BDE (fD) to the profile found in sediments collected across Thane creek were 24 ± 5, 5 ± 1 and 69 ± 7% (p < 0.001) respectively. Levels of all measured PBDEs in sediment met with guideline values except for the penta-BDE (total, BDE-99 and BDE-100) at few locations.

Occurrence of PBDEs in surface sediments of metropolitan rivers: Sources, distribution pattern, and risk assessment

Sources, concentrations, and ecological risk of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were investigated in surface sediments from 33 stations in Danshui River basin (Taiwan) in 2015. High spatial variation in total PBDEs (Σ19PBDEs) in sediments was found ranging from 2.3 to 10,490 ng g−1 dw. The effects of the physicochemical characteristics, total organic carbons (TOC) and grain size of sediments on the levels and distributions of PBDEs were investigated. Significant linear correlations were observed for PBDE concentrations with TOC (r2 = 0.45, p < 0.01) and fine sediment fraction (grain size <1 mm; r2 = 0.2, p < 0.05). Spatial distributions of Σ19PBDEs showed that sediment samples were likely impacted by point source inputs. BDE209 was the dominant congener, accounting for 77.5%–99.9% of the Σ19PBDEs in sediments suggested that commercial deca-BDE mixtures are the major sources of PBDEs in Danshui River basin. Regarding ecological risk estimation, high molecular PBDEs pose a high risk quotient (RQ > 1) to sediment dwelling organism along the 33 sampling stations, suggesting that penta-BDEs and deca-BDE are the major ecological risk drivers in the Danshui River basin.

Occurrence of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in floor and elevated surface house dust from Shanghai, China

House dust is the main source of human exposure to flame retardants by ingestion. This study investigated the occurrence of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in indoor dust from 22 houses in Shanghai, China. House dust was separately collected from the floor and elevated furnishings surface (mostly between 0.5 and 2 m height) for comparison. The concentrations of ∑22 PBDEs ranged from 19.4 to 3280 ng/g (with a geometric mean of 203 ng/g) and from 55.1 to 792 ng/g (with a geometric mean of 166 ng/g) in floor dust (FD) and elevated surface dust (ESD), respectively. BDE-209 was the predominant congener, accounting for about 73.1% of total PBDE burdens. In terms of congener profiles, the comparison of FD and ESD revealed no significant differences except for the ratio of BDE-47/BDE-99. ESD samples displayed a ratio of BDE-47/BDE-99 very similar to commercial penta-BDE products DE-71 while the ratio in FD was exceptionally higher. Significant correlation was found between concentrations of commercial penta-BDE compositions in FD and ESD (p < 0.05). Except for some occasional values, PBDE levels in house dust exhibited temporal stability. Human exposure to PBDEs via dust ingestion was estimated. The highest daily intake of PBDEs was for toddlers by using 95th percentile concentrations of PBDEs via high dust ingestion in FD (23.07 ng/kg bw/day). About 20-fold difference in exposure estimates between toddlers and adults supports that toddlers are facing greater risk from indoor floor dust. Expectedly, this study highlighted the point that residents in Shanghai were exposed to low doses of PBDEs in house dust.

Human exposure to brominated flame retardants through dust in different indoor environments: Identifying the sources of concentration differences in hair from men and women

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) can accumulate in humans and are associated with adverse health effects. The study was conducted to determine the differences in Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and alternative brominated flame retardant (Alt-BFR) concentrations between men and women. We analyzed hair samples from 14 male and 20 female university students, paired dust samples from their dormitories (10 for males and 8 for females), and six dust samples from university teaching buildings. The total PBDE concentrations in hair from females were significantly (three times) higher (p = 0.012) than that from males (means 372 and 109 ng/g, respectively). The mean total PBDE concentrations in classroom and dormitory dust were 36100 and 2012 ng/g, respectively. The PBDE patterns were different in the male and female hair samples, as were the patterns in the classroom and dormitory dust. There are no reports concerning human exposure to BFRs through dust that was assessed considering academic and residential environments simultaneously. The differences between BFR exposure for males and females and the differences between BFR concentrations in hair samples from males and females were consistent for 71.4% of the compounds. However, using only dormitory dust in the calculations gave consistent differences only for 28.6% of the compounds, suggesting that the BFR concentration differences in hair were mainly because females spent much more time than males in classrooms.

Contamination Characterization and Human Exposure Levels to Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Indoor and Outdoor Air in Industrial Park of Suzhou City

Eight polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners in indoor and outdoor air particles were collected using higher-volume active sampling techniques from different functional areas, including an industrial workplace, office, domestic area, and scenic area in an industrial zone, in Suzhou city, and the samples were analyzed by GC-MS. The total concentration of PBDEs ranged from 9.22-64.15 pg·m-3 (average 20.93 pg·m-3), and 1.06-8.44 pg·m-3(average 5.11 pg·m-3)in indoor and outdoor air, respectively. The results showed that the concentrations of PBDEs in indoor PM10 was significantly higher than that in the outdoor PM10. The average concentrations of PBDEs in the air of the different sampling areas were in the order:industrial workplace<office<dwelling indoor<outdoor air. Compared with the concentrations of PBDEs in the indoor and outdoor particulate matters from other regions, the concentrations of PBDEs in the indoor and outdoor atmospheric particles from Suzhou were at lower levels. BDE-209 was the most abundant (average 63% of the total PBDEs) in indoor and outdoor air, followed by BDE-99 and BDE-47.The estimated daily intake of PBDEs via inhalation was 3.75, 2.78, and 2.60 pg·(kg·d)-1 by the workers in the workplace, workers in office, and toddlers, respectively. Results showed that inhalation exposure to PBDEs did not cause potential health risks in the local residents of Suzhou.

Selection of passerine birds as bio-sentinel of persistent organic pollutants in terrestrial environment

A broad suite of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites, were analyzed in pectoral muscle of eight terrestrial passerine bird species from an extensive e-waste recycling site in South China. Concentrations of PCBs, PBDEs, and DDTs in bird samples ranged from 1260–279,000, 121–14,200, and 31–7910ng/g lipid weight, respectively. Insectivorous birds had significantly higher levels of PCBs, PBDEs, and DDTs than those in granivorous birds. Concentrations of POPs in resident insectivorous birds were significantly greater than those in migrant insectivorous birds. PCBs were the predominant pollutants in all bird species from the e-waste site, followed by PBDEs and DDTs, indicating that PCBs were mainly derived from e-wastes. The granivorous birds had higher proportions of hepta-CBs in total PCBs and higher proportions of octa- to deca-BDEs in total PBDEs compared with the insectivorous birds. The various dietary sources, migration behavior, and possible biotransformation were suspected as reasons of the distinct profiles of POPs in different bird species. The δ15N values were significantly and positively correlated with concentrations of POPs in resident insectivorous birds, but not in other passerine bird species, suggesting the influence of trophic levels on bioaccumulation of POPs in resident insectivorous birds. The resident insectivorous birds seem to be promising bio-sentinel of POPs in terrestrial environment around the e-waste sites.

Assessment of POPs in air from Spain using passive sampling from 2008 to 2015. Part I: Spatial and temporal observations of PBDEs

The Stockholm Convention (SC) on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) calls for the Parties' effectiveness evaluation of those measures taken to meet the reduction and eventual elimination of POPs from the environment. With that goal, air concentrations of different POP families have been measured uninterruptedly since 2008 under the Spanish Monitoring Program (SMP) by means of passive air sampling. This work focuses on data for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) determined in a total of 321 samples collected seasonally each year in 5 urban and 7 background sites. Neither significant temporal trends nor significant seasonal variations for total PBDE air burdens were detected. In contrast, significant variations were found among PBDE congeners. Those related to the octa-PBDE formulation significantly decreased in the study period. However, PBDEs related to the penta-formulation showed steady concentrations while PBDE-209, the congener found at the greatest levels, showed increasing or steady levels in most sampling sites. Seasonal variations were also markedly different among congeners. Concentrations of the lightest PBDEs (tri- to penta-substituted) were highly influenced by ambient temperature (T), showing maximum values in summer probably due to higher volatilization rates compared to those of heavier PBDEs. Contrarily, no clear seasonal trends were found for hexa- to deca-PBDEs, which were negatively related to precipitation; thereby, indicating an efficient atmospheric wash out by wet deposition episodes. Regarding spatial patterns, overall significant greater PBDE levels were found in cities compared to background areas, pointing out the role of highly populated areas as sources for these pollutants in Spain. Yet and especially in the case of PBDE-209, our results suggested the presence of significant unknown sources of PBDEs in some background sites. Further monitoring efforts are needed to assess potential unknown sources in the sampling network as well as to ensure temporal trends of these pollutants in Spain.

PBDEs and novel brominated flame retardants in road dust from northern Vietnam: Levels, congener profiles, emission sources and implications for human exposure

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and selected novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) were examined in road dust samples collected from three representative areas in northern Vietnam, including seven inner districts of Hanoi metropolitan area, an industrial park in Thai Nguyen province and a rural commune in Bac Giang province. This study aims to provide basic information on the contamination status, potential sources and human exposure to PBDEs and NBFRs associated with road dust in northern Vietnam. PBDEs were detected in all the samples at a range of 0.91–56 ng g−1 with a median value of 16 ng g−1. PBDE concentrations in road dusts from urban sites were significantly higher than those from industrial zone and rural area, suggesting their environmental load related to urbanization in northern Vietnam. BDE-209, major component of deca-BDE technical mixtures, dominated the congener patterns in all samples, accounting for 60.8–91.9% of total PBDE levels. Decabromodiphenyl ethane, an alternative of deca-BDE, was observed in a detection frequency of 100% in urban and industrial areas and at levels comparable to those of BDE-209. Other NBFRs such as pentabromoethylbenzene, hexabromobiphenyl and 1,2-bis-(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane, were found at trace levels. Daily intake doses of PBDEs via road dust ingestion from 2.3 × 10−5 to 0.11 ng kg-bw−1 d−1 were estimated for residents in study areas, indicating a negligible risk with hazard indexes of 10−9 to 10−5 for selected congeners such as BDE-47, 99, 153 and 209.

PBDE emission from E-wastes during the pyrolytic process: Emission factor, compositional profile, size distribution, and gas-particle partitioning.

Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) pollution in E-waste recycling areas has garnered great concern by scientists, the government and the public. In the current study, two typical kinds of E-wastes (printed wiring boards and plastic casings of household or office appliances) were selected to investigate the emission behaviors of individual PBDEs during the pyrolysis process. Emission factors (EFs), compositional profile, particle size distribution and gas-particle partitioning of PBDEs were explored. The mean EF values of the total PBDEs were determined at 8.1 ± 4.6 μg/g and 10.4 ± 11.3 μg/g for printed wiring boards and plastic casings, respectively. Significantly positive correlations were observed between EFs and original addition contents of PBDEs. BDE209 was the most abundant in the E-waste materials, while lowly brominated and highly brominated components (excluding BDE209) were predominant in the exhaust fumes. The distribution of total PBDEs on different particle sizes was characterized by a concentration of finer particles with an aerodynamic diameter between 0.4 μm and 2.1 μm and followed by less than 0.4 μm. Similarly, the distribution of individual species was dominated by finer particles. Most of the freshly emitted PBDEs (via pyrolysis) were liable to exist in the particulate phase with respect to the gaseous phase, particularly for finer particles. In addition, a linear relationship between the partitioning coefficient (KP) and the subcooled liquid vapor pressure (PL0) of the different components indicated non-equilibrium gas-particle partitioning during the pyrolysis process and suggested that absorption by particulate organic carbon, rather than surface adsorption, governed gas-particle partitioning.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) levels in blood samples from children living in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

The aim of this study was to perform a polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) exposure assessment using blood samples collected from children living in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico (GDL). Five congeners of PBDEs were analyzed using a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry technique. The blood concentrations of total PBDEs ranged from 5.50 to 169 ng/g lipid (42.0 ± 18.0 ng/g lipid; mean ± standard deviation). Regarding BDE congeners, the main congener (highest blood levels) was BDE99 (14.5 ± 5.50 ng/g lipid), followed by BDE100 (9.80 ± 3.40 ng/g lipid) and BDE154 (9.80 ± 5.90 ng/g lipid), and finally BDE153 (5.80 ± 2.30 ng/g lipid) and BDE47 (2.20 ± 1.20 ng/g lipid). In conclusion, blood PBDEs concentrations of concern were detected in this study, as blood levels were similar to the ones found in North America (the highest worldwide).