Do Temporal and Geographical Patterns of HBCD and PBDE Flame Retardants in U.S. Fish Reflect Evolving Industrial Usage?

Abstract

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) are common flame retardants in polymers and textiles. Recognition of the persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic properties of PBDEs has prompted reductions in their use. In contrast, HBCD has received less scrutiny. The U.S has historically been a dominant BFR consumer. However, the few publications on HBCD in wildlife here suggest modest levels compared to Asian and European studies. In contrast, the HBCD concentrations we detected in U.S. fish are among the highest reported in the world. The temporal trends observed suggest that HBCD use may have risen, and that of Penta-BDE declined, following the 2004 termination of its U.S. manufacture. For example, Hyco River carp collected in 1999-2002 exhibited a mean ∑HBCD (sum of α-, β- and γ-HBCD) concentration of only 13 ng/g (lipid weight basis), but was 4640 ng/g in fish collected in 2006-2007. In contrast, the mean ∑PBDE level in these same fish decreased from 40,700 ng/g in 1999-2002 to 9140 ng/g in 2006-2007. Concentrations of HBCD and PBDEs in several Hyco River fish species exceeded those from rivers less influenced by manufacturing outfalls. Results support the contention that textile-related production, relative to its BFR market share, may release disproportionately large amounts of HBCD to the environment.

Diasteroisomer and enantiomer-specific profiles of hexabromocyclododecane and tetrabromobisphenol A in an aquatic environment in a highly industrialized area, South China: Vertical profile, phase partition, and bioaccumulation

“…The plecostomus have significant higher HBCD loading than the mud carp and nile tilapia (Table 1). HBCD levels in the Hyco River carp (mean 4640 ng/g lw) (Chen et al, 2011a), Belgian freshwater fish (median 4500 ng/g lw) (Roosens et al, 2008), and Swedish pike (6600 ng/g lw) (Sellstrom et al, 1998), were remarkably higher than that in the present study. The HBCD levels in the mud carp and the nile tilapia in the present study were comparable with those reported in fish from English lakes ) and Netherland Rivers (Morris et al, 2004) but the levels in the plecostomus in the present study were higher than those in English lakes and Netherland Rivers.…”

A review of what is an emerging contaminant

“…As implemented in the U.S., Canada also supports the virtual voluntary elimination of DecaBDE by 2013 [29]. Industries are producing new brominated flame retardants which are now being measured in the environment [30,31] and show bioaccumulation in various organisms [32-34]. The new flame retardants products represent contaminants of emerging concerns and the persistence of the older ones such as PCBs and PBDEs are highly persistent in the environment and still an environmental problem particularly in aquatic systems where sediments are recognized as a sink for this class of contaminant.…”

Hexabromocyclododecane in consumer fish from South China: Implications for human exposure via dietary intake

“…Because levels of SHBCD in fish are expected to increase with growing demand for HBCD, it is important to monitor their concentration trends and fate of HBCD in the environment. For example, through comparing HBCD levels in fish from 1999 to 2002 and 2006 to 2007 collected from the Hyco, Dan, and Roanoke Rivers in southeastern Virginia, USA, and northeastern North Carolina, USA, Chen and coworkers [45] found an increasing trend for HBCD.…”