Determination of Dechlorane Plus in Serum from Electronics Dismantling Workers in South China

Abstract

Previous studies have reported high serum concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in residents of an electronic waste (e-waste) dismantling site in Guiyu town, South China. In this study, serum levels of Dechlorane Plus (DP), a chlorinated flame retardant of growing concern, were measured in residents of this region, and compared to those of a matched cohort from a nearby region in Haojiang, where fishing is the dominant industry. DP was detected in all the serum samples, with concentrations ranging from 7.8 to 465 ng/g lipid (median: 42.6 ng/g) and 0.93 to 50.5 ng/g lipid (median: 13.7 ng/g) in Guiyu and Haojiang, respectively. The Pearson's correlation coefficient between DP and decabromodiphenyl ether showed a positive relationship in Guiyu (r = 0.931, p < 0.01), but no correlation in Haojiang (r = 0.321, p = 0.34). The average anti-DP fractional abundances (f(anti) ratio) were 0.58 +/- 0.11 and 0.64 +/- 0.05 for Guiyu and Haojiang, respectively (p < 0.01). Tentatively identified dechlorination product ([-Cl + H]) was found in 19/40 serum samples (11/20 for Guiyu, 8/20 for Haojiang). These results suggest that the Guiyu and Haojiang cohorts experienced different dominant exposure routes. It is also possible that DP could bioaccumulate in a stereoselective manner, and undergo dechlorination metabolism. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report DP levels in human serum. Further studies are needed to confirm the results of this study.

Sources and environmental behaviors of Dechlorane Plus and related compounds — A review

“…Distinctly high DP levels were also obtained in human hair and indoor dust collected from e-waste dismantling area relative to the control areas (rural and urban) in South China (Zheng et al, 2010). This distribution pattern was consistent with the expected increase in exposure due to dismantling of e-waste (Ren et al, 2009). …”

“…With regard to DP quantification, 13 C-labeled internal standards used for PBDEs were employed when isotopically labeled Dechloranes were not available, such as 13 C-3,3′,4,4′-tetrabromodiphenyl ether ( 13 C-BDE-77) and 13 C-2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-hexabromodiphenyl ether ( 13 C-BDE-153) (Ren et al, 2009). Some BDE congeners, e.g., BDE-71, -77, -126 and -166 which could not be detected in the environment, were also served as internal standards in some works (Peverly et al, 2015;Ismail et al, 2009).…”

Particle-bound Dechlorane Plus and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in ambient air around Shanghai, China

“…The methods used for sample extraction and clean-up have been described previously Ren et al, 2009). Briefly, samples were Soxhletextracted with 1:1 (v:v) n-hexane: acetone for 48 h after being spiked with 13 C-PCB-141 and PCB-209.…”

“…Three typical DP emission sources have been reported in the published literature: DP manufacturing plant (Hoh et al, 2006;Qiu et al, 2007;Sverko et al, 2010;Tomy et al, 2007), DP-containing ewaste recycling activities (Ren et al, 2008(Ren et al, , 2009) and the use of DPcontaining products (Zhu et al, 2007). Furthermore, DP could affect source-nearby areas via air transportation (Qiu et al, 2007).…”

“…As for Asia, Qiu and Hites (2008) analyzed the tree barks from China and Korea and suggested that there might be Asia-specific sources of DP to the environment. E-waste recycling activities, urban activities and manufacturing industry have been proved as important DP sources of China (Ren et al, 2008(Ren et al, , 2009Wang et al, 2010a,b). It is necessary to pay attention to the environmental fate and risk assessment of these "new" emerging contaminants in China.…”