Methods for determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in environmental samples – review

Abstract

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a group of persistent organic pollutants. They are used as flame retardants in plastics, paints, varnishes and textile materials. PBDEs pose great risk to the environment because of their high persistence and ability to get into the environment easily due to the lack of chemical bonds with the matrix of materials, to which they are added. Global research studies confirmed the occurrence of those compounds in the majority of elements of water and land environment. Analysis of PBDEs in environmental samples is one of the specific analytical methods of criteria that comprise low detection limits and high selectivity. The analysis of PBDEs in environmental samples is one of the specific analytical methods, in which the main criteria are low detection limits and high selectivity. In this article, a literature review of methods for environmental sample preparation and analysis of the PBDE content was presented. The article discusses the potential of modern extraction techniques such as: solid-phase microextraction, single-drop microextraction, dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction, microwave-assisted extraction, cloud point extraction, hollow fibre-liquid phase microextraction and others for the separation of PBDEs from environmental samples with a complex matrix. Among the methods for qualitative and quantitative determination of PBDEs, a particular focus was put on gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with various injection techniques and different types of sample ionisation.

Performance and storage integrity of dried blood spots for PCB, BFR and pesticide measurements

“…While NHANES may not be an entirely relevant comparison for newborns, the range of POP concentrations in NHANES approximately matched (factor of two) PCB, BFR and pesticide levels reported in several recent studies [52, 53]. Notably, pesticide exposures in some countries can considerably exceed levels found in the USA (as suggested by results for the six volunteers discussed earlier).…”

Recent development in analysis of persistent organic pollutants under the Stockholm Convention

“…In these recent years, with the advent and popularity of chemical instrumentation, particular to mass spectrometry, various chromatographies coupled to mass spectrometry became the most sensitive and selective analytical tools for testing these types of compounds. Separate reviews on analyzing organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in ambient air [4], dioxins and PBDEs in environmental samples [5], and perfluorinated compounds (with PFOS) [6,7] have also been published.…”

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of emerging contaminants from environmental samples

“…BFRs, in particular PBDEs, have been the FRs most widely studied, and different reviews on the analytical techniques used for the determination of these compounds in various matrices are available in the literature [67,68]. In general, a low amount of solid samples, 0.1-2 g, was employed in UAE, but it was reported that, in samples with low lipid content, the sample amount must be higher for better quantitation [68].…”