Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and alternative brominated flame retardants in air and seawater of the European Arctic

Abstract

The spatial distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and several alternative non-PBDE, non-regulated brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in air and seawater and the air-seawater exchange was investigated in East Greenland Sea using high-volume air and water samples. Total PBDE concentrations (Ó₁₀PBDEs) ranged from 0.09 to 1.8 pg m⁻³ in the atmosphere and from 0.03 to 0.64 pg L⁻¹ in seawater. Two alternative BFRs, Hexabromobenzene (HBB) and 2,3-dibromopropyl-2,4,6-tribromophenyl ether (DPTE), showed similar concentrations and spatial trends as PBDEs. The air-seawater gas exchange was dominated by deposition with fluxes up to -492 and -1044 pg m⁻² day⁻¹ for BDE-47 and DPTE, respectively. This study shows the first occurrence of HBB, DPTE and other alternative flame retardants (e.g., pentabromotoluene (PBT)) in the Arctic atmosphere and seawater indicating that they have a similar long-range atmospheric transport potential (LRAT) as the banned PBDEs.

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers vs Alternate Brominated Flame Retardants and Dechloranes from East Asia to the Arctic

“…In addition, we observed the Dechloranes 602, 603, and 604 in the atmosphere in concentrations of 0.01À 0.2 pg m À3 , 0.4 pg m À3 , and 0.03À0.05 pg m À3 , respectively, while they were also present in a few seawater samples in concentrations of 0.2 pg L À1 , 0.007À0.2 pg L À1 , and 0.02À 0.05 pg L À1 , respectively. The atmospheric DP concentrations are similar to those observed in the marine Arctic and Atlantic environment, 19 U.S. nonÀsource sites 18,37 and Chinese rural sites. 38 The mean atmospheric fractional abundance of the synÀisomer (f syn ) was 0.64 ( 0.12 without any spatial trends from East Asia toward higher latitudes.…”

“…Recoveries of the surrogate standards 13 CÀHBB, 13 CÀBDEÀ77, 13 CÀBDEÀ138, 13 CÀBDEÀ209, and 13 CÀsynDP ranged from 78 ( 32% ( 13 CÀBDEÀ77) to 95 ( 57% ( 13 CÀBDEÀ209), and spiked recoveries of the analyzed HFRs were in the same range. 17,19,20 Samples were analyzed for 10 PBDE congeners, 8 alternate BFRs, DP, the oneÀ and 2-fold dechlorinated DP species (aCl 11 DP [-1Cl+1H], aCl 10 DP [-2Cl+2H]), and Dechlorane 602, 603, and 604 by GCÀMS in electron capture negative chemical ionization mode (ECNCI) (see Table S6 for the chemical structures). The total estimated method uncertainty according to Eurachem guidelines 21 ranged from 9.8% (PBT) to 45.3% (EHTBB) with a median uncertainty of the detected analytes of 16 ( 19%. Air Mass Back Trajectories.…”

Temporal variations of perfluoroalkyl substances and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in alpine snow

“…Observational studies confirm the model predictions and demonstrate that PBDEs can be atmospherically transported over long distances and to high mountain regions in the gaseous or particulate phase (Möller et al, 2011;Wang et al, 2009). The presence and phase of PBDEs in remote areas depends in part on environmental conditions.…”

“…BDE 47 tends to predominate in air samples while precipitation is partly characterized by higher BDE 99 concentrations (Arellano et al, 2011;Möller et al, 2011;Ter Schure and Larsson, 2002). The elevated firn core concentrations for 1997, 1998 and 2002 were up to two orders of magnitude higher than those reported in snowpack from the Tatra Mountains, Slovakia (1683e2634 m a.s.l.…”

Current levels and composition profiles of PBDEs and alternative flame retardants in surface sediments from the Pearl River Delta, southern China: Comparison with historical data

“…DP has also been reported as a possible candidate for deca-BDE replacement . These chemicals have been detected in the environment at numerous locations (Covaci et al, 2011;Moller et al, 2011;Davis et al, 2012).…”