A contemporary assessment of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) in the ambient air and soil of Azerbaijan

Abstract

PBDEs were measured in air and soil across Azerbaijan to establish contemporary concentrations at 13 urban and rural sites. Polyurethane foam passive air samplers (PUF-PAS) were deployed for a period of a month with surface soil samples collected at the same sites. Unlike organochlorine pesticides previously surveyed by our group, PBDE concentrations in both contemporary air and soil were low in comparison to recent European and Asian studies. For example, mean ∑PBDE concentrations in air and soil were 7.13 ± 1.66 pg m and 168 ± 57 pg g, respectively. The fully brominated BDE-209 was the most abundant congener observed in soil (174.8 ± 58.5 pg g), comprising ~ 96% of ∑PBDE. However, the PAS-derived air concentrations for highly brominated congeners must be viewed with caution as there is uncertainty over the uptake rates of particle-bound chemicals using these devices. Some of the highest concentrations in air were observed at sites with the highest wind speeds and at several remote locations in the north of the country and this requires further research. Levels of BDE-47 and 99 (the two most abundant congeners in the widely used penta-formulation) were lower than levels reported elsewhere suggesting limited use/import of the penta-BDE formulation in Azerbaijan.

The legacy of pesticides and POPs stockpiles—a threat to health and the environment

“…The study highlights a range of other pollutants present in vehicles (e.g., heavy metals, other flame retardants, PCBs, chlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, and waste oil), and emphasizes the need for an integrated management of pollutants and resources from the transport sector (Babayemi et al 2016). Aliyeva et al (2017) measured PBDEs in air and soil at 13 urban and rural sites across Azerbaijan. Levels of BDE-47 and 99 (the two most abundant congeners in the widely used penta-formulation) were lower than levels reported elsewhere, suggesting limited use and import of the c-Penta-BDE in Azerbaijan (Aliyeva et al 2017).…”

“…Aliyeva et al (2017) measured PBDEs in air and soil at 13 urban and rural sites across Azerbaijan. Levels of BDE-47 and 99 (the two most abundant congeners in the widely used penta-formulation) were lower than levels reported elsewhere, suggesting limited use and import of the c-Penta-BDE in Azerbaijan (Aliyeva et al 2017). The Nigerian study (Babayemi et al 2016) reinforces the relevance of exports of PBDE-containing products and waste to environmental pollution (Breivik et al 2011;Wong et al 2007), while the Azerbaijan data show that EECCA regions with low imports of goods from the USA, where 90% of c-PentaBDE has been used, have low levels of contamination with c-PentaBDE congeners.…”