Detection of Dechlorane Plus and brominated flame retardants in marketed fish in Japan

Fish samples purchased from Japanese markets were analyzed for Dechlorane Plus (DP)(syn-, anti-), polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE), and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)(α, γ). Twenty fish were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for DP and PBDE, and using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for HBCD. DP was detected in 18 samples and ∑DP concentrations were <0.2-14.2 pg g⁻¹ wet wt. Among the DP isomers, anti-DP was the dominant residue observed in this study. PBDE was detected in all samples. Concentrations of ∑PBDE ranged from 2.2 to 878 pg g⁻¹ wet wt. HBCD was detected in 18 samples, and ∑HBCD concentrations were <0.02-21.9 ng g⁻¹ wet wt. In fish landed near the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan, we detected relatively high concentrations of DP, PBDE, and HBCD. These results indicate that the seawaters around East Asia are contaminated with flame retardants. This study demonstrates the presence of DP in fish marketed in Japan for the first time.     

高效生物活性炭吸附工艺去除水体中甲基叔丁基醚的初步研究

通过对来自美国加州拉玛达(La Mirada)市污染点的原始菌源炭进行甲基叔丁基醚(MTBE)降解菌生物强化,试图建立具有更有效MTBE降解效果的生物活性炭(BAC)功能,尝试利用新形成的菌源炭覆盖新鲜椰壳活性炭(GAC)而达到新BAC功能的快速有效启动,并考察不同空床停留时间(EBCT)、GAC吸附饱和状态对BAC功能启动的影响。同时,对具有成熟BAC功能的炭柱中的混合菌落进行基于16SrDNA的聚合酶链反应(PCR)—变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)分析,以确定混合菌落中的主要功能菌种属。结果表明,针对模拟的低MTBE浓度进水,新鲜GAC和菌源炭A添加体积分数分别为40%和60%的NAS柱出水MTBE质量浓度最终稳定低于0.005mg/L,平均去除率接近99%,出水MTBE完全达到美国环境保护署(EPA)的饮用水建议阈值(<20μg/L),建立了成熟的BAC功能;成熟的菌源炭可在30d左右通过覆盖法迅速实现新BAC功能的启动;EBCT的延长有利于新BAC功能的启动和维持,接种初期应尽量采用较长EBCT以保证取得足够和稳定的生物量;MTBE吸附饱和前后的GAC在启动新BAC功能时存在差异,鉴于吸附饱和GAC在接种初期会因MTBE解吸而造成出水MTBE浓度较高,建议采用新鲜活性炭覆盖需接种炭柱;BAC功能成熟炭柱中包括的5种主要菌种里有4种为未培养微生物,1种为未分类菌种,其理化性质和具体属性尚不明确。     

土壤粒径及有机质对多溴二苯醚热脱附的影响

在实验室条件下,研究了土壤粒径与土壤有机质含量对多溴二苯醚(PBDEs)热脱附的影响,以期为PBDEs污染土壤热脱附修复提供理论依据。实验结果表明,300℃停留30 min条件下,粒径为<75、75～125、125～250、250～425和425～850μm的土壤中PBDEs去除率分别为49.53%、73.88%、79.39%、83.56%和87.09%,PBDEs总去除率随粒径的增大而增大,土壤BDE209较BDE206、BDE207和BDE208更易于脱除。此外,温度低于450℃时,H2O2氧化部分去除有机质后土壤中PBDEs的去除率较原土高;表明,土壤有机质可能抑制土壤中PBDEs的热脱附。     

Diffusion of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) from an e-waste recycling area to the surrounding regions in Southeast China

Using Cinnamomum camphora (C. camphora) leaves as biomonitors, we investigated that the diffusion of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) from an e-waste recycling area to the surrounding regions. Variance in ∑₃₂PBDEs concentrations (0.46–399.93 ng g⁻¹ dry weight) in the leaves showed that PBDEs from the e-waste recycling area diffused into the surrounding regions, and resulted in a halo of PBDEs contamination, at least 74 km in radius. The attenuation of ∑₃₂PBDEs in the diffusing process fitted in log-linear regression. The difference in the attenuating slopes of linear equations among different directions can be explained by terrain and wind direction. The attenuation of PBDE congeners also fitted well in log-linear regression. The findings that similar attenuating slopes and characteristic travel distance among congeners suggest that the transport behavior of lower brominated congeners might not differ from that of higher brominated congeners in short-range scale.     

An exposure study with polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in female European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris): toxicokinetics and reproductive effects

We exposed female European starlings to a pentabromodiphenyl ether (Penta-BDE) mixture through subcutaneous implants, and examined levels and profiles of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) together with reproductive effects. Sum PBDE levels increased significantly in the serum of the exposed females from 218 ± 43 to 23,400 ± 2035 pg/ml. Sum PBDE concentrations in the eggs of the exposed group ranged from 130 ± 12 to 220 ± 37 ng/g wet weight (ww). The profile in serum after egg laying was very similar to that in eggs. There were no detectable levels of HO-PBDEs in both serum and eggs. Fewer females of the exposed group initiated egg laying compared to the control group, although the difference was not significant. In addition, egg weight and volume were significantly higher in the exposed group. These results suggest that, at the investigated exposure levels (150 μg sum PBDEs/bird), PBDEs may have a negative effect on reproductive performance.     

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in sediments of the Daliao River Estuary, China: levels, distribution and their influencing factors

The concentrations, compositional profiles, possible sources of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in sediments of the Daliao River Estuary as well as the factors influencing the distribution of PBDEs were investigated. The total concentrations of PBDEs ranged from 0.13 to 1.98 ng g⁻¹ d.w. BDE209 was the dominating congener in all sediment samples, indicating the pollution of PBDEs in the Daliao River Estuary mainly came from the use of deca-BDE commercial mixtures. The intrusion of sea waters promoted the deposition of the colloid-associated PBDEs in the estuary. There were significantly negative correlations between PBDE concentration in sediment with pH value and salinity in the bottom water. The higher river flow in the flood season (summer) obviously accelerated the transport of PBDEs, and thereby increased the risk of PBDE contamination to the deep ocean. Moreover, a positive correlation between TOC and PBDE distributions was observed, suggesting that TOC regulated the distributions of PBDEs in sediments of Daliao River Estuary.