Bioaccumulation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, decabromodiphenyl ethane, and 1,2‐bis(2,4,6‐tribromophenoxy) ethane flame retardants in kingfishers (Alcedo atthis) from an electronic waste–recycling site in South China

Abstract

Abstract-Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), and 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy) ethane (BTBPE), were investigated in common kingfishers (Alcedo atthis) and their prey fish from an electronic waste-recycling site in south China. Elevated BFR residues were detected in the kingfishers, with median concentrations of 8,760, 12, and 7.7 ng/g lipid weight for total PBDEs, DBDPE, and BTBPE, respectively. The calculated predator/prey biomagnification factors (BMFs) were greater than unity for most of the investigated PBDE congeners, with relatively higher values for some hexa-, hepta-, and octa-BDEs (e.g., BDEs 153, 183, 196, 197, 202, and 203). The average BMFs ranged 0.10 to 0.77 and 1.90 to 3.60 for DBDPE and BTBPE, respectively. The BMFs for BTBPE were comparable to or even greater than those for some tri-to pentaBDEs in certain predator/prey pairs, indicating potentially high environmental risks of this compound. Significantly higher concentration ratios of BDEs 202 and 207 to BDE 209 were observed in the kingfishers compared with their prey fish, and these ratios were negatively correlated with the logarithm of BDE 209 concentrations in the kingfishers. This may indicate biotransformation of BDE 209 to BDEs 202 and 207 in these birds. This is the first assessment of the biomagnification potentials of DBDPE and BTBPE in a wild piscivorous bird. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012;31:215331: -215831: . # 2012

Deiodinases and thyroid metabolism disruption in teleost fish

“…hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane (BTBPE). As consequence, their use and production have been increased and significant concentrations of some of them are already detected in biological matrices, including aquatic environments (Hoh and Hites, 2005;Law et al, 2006;Mo et al, 2012;Sjödin et al, 2001). Although poorly studied, HBCD has been associated to thyroid effects in rats and described to modify ID2 activity levels in fish (Palace et al, 2010(Palace et al, , 2008.…”

Dechlorane Plus flame retardant in kingfishers (Alcedo atthis) from an electronic waste recycling site and a reference site, South China: Influence of residue levels on the isomeric composition

“…The kingfishers collected from the e-waste recycling site have been used to investigate residues of PBDEs and other brominated flame retardants (BFRs) (Mo et al, 2012). Common kingfisher fed mostly (w99%) on small fish species with average length of 2.3 cm (up to 12.5 cm) (Kasahara and Katoh, 2008).…”

Using the kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) as a bioindicator of PCBs and PBDEs in the dinghushan biosphere reserve, China

“…Extraction, cleanup, and analysis of the investigated chemicals in kingfishers (muscle tissue) and their prey fish species (whole body) were performed according to previously described methods . In brief, after spiking with surrogate standards (BDEs 77, 181, and 205; 13 C‐BDE 209 for BFRs; CBs 30, 65, and 204 for PCBs and DDTs), the samples were homogenized with anhydrous sodium sulfate and Soxhlet‐extracted with an acetone and hexane mixture (1/1, v/v) for 48 h. The lipid contents were gravimetrically determined from an aliquot of the extract, and the rest of the extract was passed through a gel‐permeation chromatography column to remove bulk lipids and interfering coextractables.…”

“…× 0.25‐µm film thickness; J&W Scientific) was used to separate PCBs and DDTs. Details of the GC conditions and monitored ions have been described elsewhere .…”

“…Birds can serve as a useful bioindicators of contamination. Kingfishers are one of the most common and widely distributed resident birds; thus, they can serve as a useful species for site‐specific ecological risk assessments . In the present study, we analyzed PCBs, PBDEs, and 2 ABFRs (DBDPE and BTBPE) in the Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve and a reference site by using the common kingfisher ( Alcedo atthis ) as a bioindicator.…”