Environmental Characteristics of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Marine System, with Emphasis on Marine Organisms and Sediments

Abstract

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), due to their widespread usage as flame retardants and their lipophilicity and persistence, have become ubiquitous in the environment. It is urgent to understand the environmental characteristics of PBDEs in marine system, but they have attracted little attention. We summarize the available data and analyze the regional distributions, controlling factors, and congener patterns of PBDEs in marine and associated environmental matrixes worldwide. Based on meta-analysis, after separating the estuarial sites from the marine sites, ignoring the extraordinary sample sites such as those located just near the point source, the PBDE concentration levels are still in the same order of magnitude from global scale. Despite Principal Component Analysis, the congener patterns of sediments are predominant with the heavy brominated congeners (BDE-209 contributing over 75% to the total load) while the biota abound with the light ones (BDE-47, BDE-99, and BDE-100 taking about 80%). The ratio between BDE-99 and BDE-100 for the lower trophic-level species often turns to be greater than 1, while for those higher species the ratio may be below 1, and some species feed mainly on the crustaceans and zooplankton seems to have a higher ratio value. The data of the PBDEs in marine system are currently limited; thus, data gaps are identified as well.

Accumulation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and microbiome response in the great pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis with exposure to nylon (polyamide) microplastics

“…1). This corresponds with evidence which shows that BDEs 47 and 99 are the most bioavailable PBDE congeners, due to a lower molecular weight and smaller molecules than higher brominated congeners (Liang et al, 2010;Mizukawa et al, 2009;Watanabe and Sakai, 2003;Zhang et al, 2016).…”

Evaluation of PCDD/Fs, dioxin-like PCBs and PBDEs in sperm whales from the Mediterranean Sea

“…Its highest hydrophobicity among BDE congeners explains its heightened sequestration into suspended particulate matter and sediments, which results in low bioavailability (Lee and Kim, 2015). Moreover it shows a higher degree of chemical, microbiological degradation, and a higher degree of metabolization than lighter BDE congeners, which is thought to justify its usual absence -or lower concentrations in comparison to other BDE congeners -in marine mammals (Zhang et al, 2016). Overall, the PBDE congener profile was also similar to those described by Pinzone et al (2015) and Zaccaroni et al (2018) for Mediterranean sperm whales sampled between 2008 and 2014.…”

Occurrence of Halogenated Organic Pollutants in Hadal Trenches of the Western Pacific Ocean

“…In addition to atmospheric migration and surface runoff, , garbage patches in the ocean gyres are the main source of POP inputs into the water column . A variety of POPs are frequently detected in marine organisms, including PBDEs, PCBs, organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and bisphenol A, which are known carcinogens and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. − Additionally, a variety of persistent halogenated compounds that are structurally similar to PBDEs and have been proven to be naturally produced have also been found to be pervasive in marine biota across all trophic levels . Thus, there is an urgent need to investigate the extent to which the trenches are polluted because the contamination status of the trench fauna and more importantly its living environment is largely unknown.…”