Levels,profile and distribution of Dechloran Plus (DP) and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in the environment of Pakistan

No scientific data is available on emerging contaminants including Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) and Dechloran Plus (DP) levels in the environment in Pakistan. Levels of PBDEs and DP were determined in the soil, sediment and atmospheric samples along the stretch of River Ravi in Punjab Province. Average concentrations of ΣPBDEs in atmosphere, soils and sediments were 36 pg m⁻³, 40 ng g⁻¹ and 640 ng g⁻¹. BDE-209 was the most abundant PBDE congener, showing that deca-BDE accounts for most of the total PBDE emitted in the environment of Pakistan. Total DP levels were calculated as 88 pg m⁻³, 0.8 ng g⁻¹ and 1.9 ng g⁻¹ in air, soil and sediment samples, respectively. The lower average fractions of anti-DP showed significant differences to those of the technical mixtures, indicating the lack of DP production source in Pakistan.     

电动力学作用下多溴联苯醚在土壤中的迁移特性

以4,4′-二溴联苯醚(BDE-15)为研究对象,探讨了电极电压、初始土壤pH、β-环糊精加入量、NaCl加入量等工艺条件对多溴联苯醚在土壤中迁移效果的影响。实验结果表明:在电极电压为5~15V范围内,随着电极电压的升高,土壤中BDE-15的迁移效果增强;初始土壤为酸性时、加入β-环糊精或NaCl后,土壤中BDE-15的迁移效果均增强。本实验选择的最佳工作条件为:电极电压15V,初始土壤pH3,β-环糊精的加入量3g,NaCl加入量5g。     

Effects of excited-state structures and properties on photochemical degradation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers: a TDDFT study

This study presents new insight into the photochemical degradation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and it provides details about the structures and properties of 27 PBDE congeners in the electronically excited state using the time-dependent density functional theory method. Each PBDE congener exhibited remarkably different geometries in the ground state and the excited state. The significant lengthening of C-Br bond in each PBDE congener was observed in the excited state for the first time by theoretical calculation, which is directly involved in the photochemistry reductive debromination of n-BDE to (n−1)-BDE. Generally, the lengthening of C-Br bonds cannot occur at the para position. Furthermore, the calculated results demonstrated that the photoreactivity of PBDEs increased with an increase of bromination degree. It was also found that the pattern of Br substituents had an effect upon the photoreactivity of PBDEs. These findings suggest that the information obtained in the excited state is crucial to the mechanism explanation of the photochemical degradation of PBDEs.     

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated naphthalenes and polycyclic musks in human fat from Italy: Comparison to polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides

Prior to this study, reports of occurrence of polycyclic musks and polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) in human tissues from Italy were not available. In this study, concentrations of PCNs and polycyclic musks were determined in human adipose tissue from Italy collected during 2005-2006; for comparison, legacy organohalogen pollutants such as organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were determined. ΣPCN concentrations ranged from 0.5 to 14 ng/g lipid wt (lw). Polycyclic musks such as HHCB and AHTN were found in 92% and 83% of the human samples, respectively. Concentrations of PBDEs in Italian adipose tissue ranged between 3.2 and 35.6 ng/g lw.     

Occurrence, bioaccumulation and potential sources of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in typical freshwater cultured fish ponds of South China

To determine the potential input sources of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) to fish farming environments in South China, samples of seven various environmental matrices were collected from October 2006-September 2007. Tri- to deca-BDEs were detected in all samples analyzed, with mean concentrations (±standard deviations) at 5.7 ± 3.6 ng/L in pond water, 15 ± 11 ng/g dry wt. in pond sediment, 12 ± 3.8 ng/g dry wt. in bank soil, 21 ± 20 ng/g lipid wt. in fish, and 93 ± 62 ng/g lipid wt. in fish feeds. In addition, BDE-209 was the major constituent in all samples except fish and BDE-47 was predominant in fish samples. Relatively high abundances of BDE-49 were detected in all the samples compared to those in the penta-BDE technical products. Several bioaccumulation factors were evaluated. Finally, statistical analyses suggested that fish feed, as well as pond water at a lesser degree, may have been the major source of PBDEs in freshwater farmed fish.     

Levels and bioaccumulation of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in fishes from the Pearl River estuary and Daya Bay, South China

Fifty fish samples were collected from the Pearl River estuary (PRE) and Daya Bay, South China and were analyzed for DDTs, HCHs, chlordanes and polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Except the high concentrations of DDT observed in fishes, the concentrations of HCHs, chlordanes and PBDEs were low when compared to other regions. BDE-47 was the predominant PBDE congener and the BDE-209 concentrations were relatively low, despite its high concentration in surface sediments. The absence of significant increase of DDT, HCH, chlordane and PBDE concentrations towards higher delta15N values, as well as the lack of a significant correlation (p<0.1) between log concentrations (lipid normalized) and delta15N, may indicate a weak biomagnification of these chemicals in the food webs. Good agreement was observed between their concentrations and lipid contents of the organisms. Bioconcentration was suggested to be responsible for the accumulation of OCPs and PBDEs in the lower trophic organisms in the studied subtropical waters.     

Brominated flame retardants and polychlorinated biphenyls in fish from the river Scheldt, Belgium

Levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in several fish species originating from the river Scheldt (Belgium). Five sampling locations were chosen in a highly industrialized area along the river, while two ponds in the vicinity of the river served as reference sites. The present study is a follow-up of a survey performed in 2000 which reported extremely high levels of PBDEs and HBCDs in eel (Anguilla anguilla) collected from the same region (Oudenaarde, Flanders). The sum of tri- to hepta-BDE congeners (2270+/-2260 ng/g lipid weight (lw), range 660-11500 ng/g lw) and total HBCDs (4500+/-3000 ng/g lw, range 390-12100 ng/g lw) were one order of magnitude higher than levels usually reported from freshwater systems, indicating the presence of point sources. In most samples, levels of total HBCDs were higher than those of PBDEs, probably due to the high density of factories using HBCD as an additive brominated flame retardant (BFR). The high values of HBCDs were confirmed by both gas- and liquid-chromatography-mass spectrometry. Although BFR levels were between the highest ever reported in freshwater ecosystems, PCBs could be detected at even higher concentrations (16000+/-14300 ng/g lw, range 3900-66600 ng/g lw), being among the highest levels recorded in Belgium. The inter-sampling site variation of PBDEs, HBCDs and PCBs was comparable. All locations presented similar PBDE congener profiles, with BDE 47 being the dominant congener, followed by BDE 100, BDE 99 and BDE 49, probably originating from the former use of the penta-BDE technical mixture. In order to estimate the impact of these point sources on human exposure, we further focussed on eels which showed a considerable decrease in the PBDE and HBCD levels between 2000 and 2006. Due to the wide span in concentrations between the different sampling locations, a variable contribution to the total human exposure through local eel consumption was estimated. The calculated daily intake ranged from 3 ng to 330 ng PBDEs/day for normal eel consumers, but was as high as 9800 ng PBDEs/day for anglers, which may be considered at risk.     

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in e-waste: Level and transfer in a typical e-waste recycling site in Shanghai,Eastern China

Very few data for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were available in the electronic waste (e-waste) as one of the most PBDEs emission source. This study reported concentrations of PBDEs in e-waste including printer, rice cooker, computer monitor, TV, electric iron and water dispenser, as well as dust from e-waste, e-waste dismantling workshop and surface soil from inside and outside of an e-waste recycling plant in Shanghai, Eastern China. The results showed that PBDEs were detected in the majority of e-waste, and the concentrations of ΣPBDEs ranged from not detected to 175 g/kg, with a mean value of 10.8 g/kg. PBDEs were found in TVs made in China after 1990. The mean concentrations of ΣPBDEs in e-waste made in Korea, Japan, Singapore and China were 1.84 g/kg, 20.5 g/kg, 0.91 g/kg, 4.48 g/kg, respectively. The levels of ΣPBDEs in e-waste made in Japan far exceed the threshold limit of RoHS (1.00 g/kg). BDE-209 dominated in e-waste, accounting for over 93%. The compositional patterns of PBDEs congeners resembled the profile of Saytex 102E, indicating the source of deca-BDE. Among the samples of dust and surface soil from a typical e-waste recycling site, the highest concentrations of Σ₁₈PBDEs and BDE-209 were found in dust in e-waste, ranging from 1960 to 340,710 ng/g and from 910 to 320,400 ng/g, which were 1–2 orders of magnitude higher than other samples. It suggested that PBDEs released from e-waste via dust, and then transferred to surrounding environment.     

Teratogenicity of bifenox and nitrofen in rodents

Abstract

The teratogenicity of the diphenyl ether herbicide bifenox [2,4‐dichlorophenyl 3'‐carboxymethyl‐4'‐nitrophenyl ether] was compared to that of nitrofen [2,4‐dichlorophenyl 4'‐nitrophenyl ether] in rats and in mice. Neither compound increased prenatal mortality in mice. Because nitrofen causes both malformations that are compatible with survival to weaning and a high incidence of perinatal (but not of fetal) mortality, emphasis was placed on postnatal parameters of bifenox toxicity. In rats, bifenox caused a low incidence of “bloody tears”;, but it did not decrease survival to term or to weaning in rats or mice, and did not reduce Harderian gland weight in mice. Because the weight of the Harderian glands is a more objective measure of their status than is the presence of an eye discharge, it is concluded that bifenox is not teratogenic at the levels administered. Nitrofen decreased litter size, pup weight, and Harderian gland weight in mice.     

典型地区大气中多溴联苯醚和新型溴代阻燃剂的水平及组成分布

溴代阻燃剂被广泛应用于工业和商业产品中,广泛存在于各种环境介质中,可能会对环境和人体产生潜在的危害.本研究选取我国溴代阻燃剂生产源区山东省潍坊市滨海开发区为生产源区域,广西壮族自治区南宁市作为对照区域,测定两地大气中8种多溴联苯醚(PBDEs:BDE-28,-47,-100,-99,-154,-153,-183,-209)和新型溴代阻燃剂(NBFRs:PBT,PBEB,HBB)的浓度.结果表明,潍坊和南宁大气中Σ8PBDEs算术平均浓度分别为1.4×105pg·m-3和323.0 pg·m-3,Σ3NBFRs算术平均浓度分别为4.2×103pg·m-3和11.9 pg·m-3.与其他城市相比,生产源区大气中溴代阻燃剂浓度在全球范围内处于较高污染水平,南宁市则与我国其他城市的水平相当,生产源区大气中PBDEs的分布特征异于南宁,PBEB、PBT、HBB及BDE-209之间的相关性在两城市也具有一定的差异.