Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in the serum and breast milk of the resident population from production area, China

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been produced in the south coast area of Laizhou Bay, Shandong Province in China, but little is known about the PBDE exposure level of residents to these compounds. We set out to assess potential health risks of PBDEs in the south coast area of the Laizhou Bay by determining the concentrations of PBDEs in serum and breast milk. We measured concentrations of eight PBDE congeners in serum and breast milk. The arithmetic means of Σ₈PBDE in pooled serum and breast milk were 613 ng/g lipid and 81.5 ng/g lipid, respectively. The highest concentration for Σ₈PBDE in all serum pools was 1830 ng/g lipid from the 41–50 year old female group. BDE-209 was the predominant congener, with the mean concentrations of 403 ng/g lipid in serum and 45.6 ng/g lipid in breast milk, respectively. BDE-209 averagely accounted for 65.8% and 54.2% of the total PBDEs, respectively. Our results suggest that high exposures to PBDEs have led to very high PBDE concentrations in serum and breast milk from the residents living in the south coast area of Laizhou Bay. High PBDE concentrations in human serum, particularly in women, pose a potential public health threat to local residents.     

Levels and distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the freshwater environment surrounding a PBDE manufacturing plant in China

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were determined in muscle, liver and eggs of freshwater fishes and surface sediments from the Nongkang River in Jinhu, Jiangsu Province, China. The present study is the first to report PBDE concentrations in the freshwater environment surrounding a PBDE manufacturing plant in China. The concentrations of 13 PBDE congeners in muscle, liver and eggs of freshwater fishes ranged from <LOD to 130, <LOD to 252 and <LOD to 33.3 ng/g lipid wt, respectively, while the concentrations of 13 PBDE congeners in surface sediments from sewage outfall, upstream and downstream of the river were 52, 9.2, 7.1 ng/g organic carbon wt, respectively. Contamination by PBDEs in this area was not serious when compared with other regions of the world. A relatively high proportion of BDE-183 was found, consistent with the octa-BDE technical mixtures from the manufacturing plant by the side of the river.     

Identification and quantification of products formed via photolysis of decabromodiphenyl ether

Background, aim, and scope  Decabromodiphenyl ether (DecaBDE) is used as an additive flame retardant in polymers. It has become a ubiquitous environmental contaminant, particularly abundant in abiotic media, such as sediments, air, and dust, and also present in wildlife and in humans. The main DecaBDE constituent, perbrominated diphenyl ether (BDE-209), is susceptible to transformations as observed in experimental work. This work is aimed at identifying and assessing the relative amounts of products formed after UV irradiation of BDE-209. Materials and methods  BDE-209, dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (THF), methanol, or combinations of methanol/water, was exposed to UV light for 100 or 200 min. Samples were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (electron ionization) for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), dibenzofurans (PBDFs), methoxylated PBDEs, and phenolic PBDE products. Results  The products formed were hexaBDEs to nonaBDEs, monoBDFs to pentaBDFs, and methoxylated tetraBDFs to pentaBDFs. The products found in the fraction containing halogenated phenols were assigned to be pentabromophenol, dihydroxytetrabromobenzene, dihydroxydibromodibenzofuran, dihydroxytribromodibenzofuran, and dihydroxytetrabromodibenzofuran. The PBDEs accounted for approximately 90% of the total amount of substances in each sample and the PBDFs for about 10%. Discussion  BDE-209 is a source of PBDEs primarily present in OctaBDEs but also to some extent in PentaBDEs, both being commercial products now banned within the EU and in several states within the USA. It is notable that OH-PBDFs have not been identified or indicated in any of the photolysis studies performed to date. Formation of OH-PBDFs, however, may occur as pure radical reactions in the atmosphere. Conclusions  Photolysis of decaBDE yields a wide span of products, from nonaBDEs to hydroxylated bromobenzenes. It is evident that irradiation of decaBDE in water and methanol yields OH-PBDFs and MeO-PBDFs, respectively. BDE-202 (2,2′,3,3′,5,5′,6,6′-octabromodiphenyl ether) is identified as a marker of BDE-209 photolysis. Recommendations and perspectives  BDE-209, the main constituent of DecaBDE, is primarily forming debrominated diphenyl ethers with higher persistence which are more bioaccumulative than the starting material when subjected to UV light. Hence, DecaBDE should be considered as a source of these PBDE congeners in the environment. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations on the bioaccumulation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers by Prorocentrum donghaiense

The growth, cellular total lipids, bioaccumulation amount, and bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) of 2,4,4 ′ -tribromodiphenyl ether (BDE28), 2,2 ′ ,4,4 ′ -tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE47), and 2,2 ′ ,4,4 ′ ,5-pentabromodiphenyl ether (BDE99) in a semi-continuous culture of Prorocentrum donghaiense were studied in relation to nitrate (0, 128, and 512 μmol/L) and phosphate (0, 8, and 32 μmol/L) concentrations. The BDE28, BDE47, and BDE99 content per cell under 0 μmol N/L were 3.77 × 10 6 , 3.95 × 10 6 , and 4.32 × 10 6 ng/cell, respectively, which were significantly higher than those under 128 and 512 μmol N/L. A nearly 5-fold increase in polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) content per algal cell was found between 0 and 8 μmol P/L and between 8 and 32 μmol P/L. With increasing N and P concentrations, the PBDE content per volume of algal culture and the accumulation percentage of available PBDEs declined slightly. The BAFs for the PBDEs based on lipids showed that the logBAF lip under 0 μmol N/L was higher than those under 128 and 512 μmol N/L. The logBAF lip under 0 μmol P/L was higher than that under 8 μmol P/L but lower than that under 32 μmol P/L. Correlation analysis indicated a significant negative correlation between nutrient concentration and cellular total lipids, as well as the PBDE content per cell. The results indicate that different N and P concentrations change the total lipids content of P. donghaiense, thereby resulting in varying PBDE accumulation.     

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.     

废旧电器拆解区河流沉积物中多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)的污染特征与生态风险

在流经某废旧电器拆解区域的河段中采集沉积物样品,研究了该区域河流中多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)的污染特征和生态风险.结果表明,在所有沉积物样品中PBDEs含量在101~20400 ng·g-1之间,平均浓度为3700 ng·g-1,其中主要单体为BDE209,在23个样品中的平均比例达到94%以上;在河流中分布呈现出上游和下游低,中游高,而下游平均浓度比上游高的趋势,在拆解园区附近浓度达到最高;与其它地区相比,该地区PBDEs污染相对较为严重;废旧电器的拆解是该区域沉积物中PBDEs污染主要来源.经测算,当地近40年的拆解活动中共向该河流中排放了多溴联苯醚0.39 t,其中BDE209为0.36 t;采用危害商数法对沉积物中PBDEs进行了初步的生态风险评估,结果表明,该河流沉积物中OctaBDEs和DecaBDEs生态风险较低,而PentaBDEs则风险较高,可能对环境造成危害.     

2,2'',4,4''-四溴联苯醚的好氧微生物降解

从北京高碑店污水处理厂活性污泥中筛选出1株能好氧降解2,2’,4,4’-四溴联苯醚(BDE-47)的细菌,并对其降解特性及有关蛋白质进行分析,目的是了解好氧条件下BDE-47的微生物降解机制.BDE-47降解菌通过平板划线法获得,其16S rDNA与不动杆菌(Acintobacter sp.)的相似度最大,为90%.采用250 mL锥形瓶研究了所得菌对BDE-47的降解情况,在BDE-47初试浓度为146μg.L-1的条件下,经过63 d的培养,所得菌降解了45.44%的BDE-47,降解产物主要为4-OH-联苯醚,菌量增加了7倍左右.分别以BDE-47和酵母提取物为碳源培养所得菌2周,然后各自提取蛋白质,通过蛋白质双向电泳及质谱检测,发现了与BDE-47降解有关的一些特异蛋白质.本研究表明,在好氧条件下,细菌可以BDE-47为碳源生长,其过程涉及多种蛋白质的作用.     

Occurrence of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in fish and shellfish downstream from electronic-waste recycling plants

We measured 39 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the muscle tissue of three species of fish (Sciaenops ocellatus, Sparus macrocephalus, and Lateolabrax japonicus) and four species of shellfish (Tegillarca granosa, Cyclina sinensis, Sinonovacula constricta, and Ostrea cucullata) that were collected downstream of electronic-waste recycling plants in Taizhou, China. A total of 24 PBDE congeners (PBDE24) in the samples were detected. The PPBDE24 (total PBDE) ranged from 545.4 to 1688.7 ng/kg ww (wet weight). The mean PPBDE24 concentration was 1382.6 ng/kg ww in fish and 858.1 ng/kg ww in shellfish. The lower brominated congeners were detected at relatively high concentrations in all species. The penta-products, produced from e-waste, were found at relatively low levels. A principal component analysis suggested a significant correlation among di-, tri-, tetra-, and hepta-BDEs for the three species of fish. Similarly, we found a significant correlation between mono- and tri-BDEs in the shellfish. Our results suggested that the processes of PBDE metabolism and elimination were similar in both fish and shellfish. In addition, the primary source of PBDEs appeared to be from the debromination of high brominated PBDEs.     

厌氧条件下 2,2'',4,4''-四溴联苯醚的微生物降解

多溴联苯醚是环境中的新兴污染物,其中2,2’,4,4’-四溴联苯醚(BDE-47)在环境(尤其是水环境)中普遍存在且生物毒性很高.以BDE-47为对象,研究了6组含脱卤球菌的培养液对BDE-47的降解,目的是了解厌氧条件下BDE-47的微生物降解及其动力学.采用100 mL血清瓶作为厌氧反应器,对厌氧微生物进行培养.对每组菌作两种处理,一是仅加入BDE-47作为能源(设计终浓度为200μg.L-1),另一是同时加入BDE-47和三氯乙烯(TCE)作为能源(设计终浓度分别为200μg.L-1和13mg.L-1).经过3个月的实验,两组含脱卤球菌的培养液(6M6B和T2)均能明显降解BDE-47,生成BDE-17、BDE-4及少量的DE,TCE的存在一定程度上减弱了6M6B和T2菌对BDE-47的降解.采用PCR-DGGE法对不同培养菌液的群落结构进行比较,发现醋酸杆菌属与BDE-47的降解关联较大.在3种不同初始浓度(50、250和500μg.L-1)条件下,BDE-47的降解速率分别为0.003 3、0.001 4和0.001 0 d-1.本研究表明,厌氧条件下BDE-47在细菌的作用下可发生还原降解,生成BDE-17和BDE-4.醋酸杆菌属可能在BDE-47的降解中起较大作用.高浓度的BDE-47在一定程度上会抑制降解菌的活性.     

Contamination by persistent toxic substances in surface sediment of urban rivers in Chaohu City, China

The concentration and spatial distribution of persistent toxic substances (PTS) in the river sediment in Chaohu City, China were investigated. A total of nine surface sediments were collected and the selected PTS pollutants including six heavy metals and nineteen polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were analyzed. The mean heavy metal concentrations (in mg/kg, dry weight) ranged within 0.18-1.53 (Hg), 50.08-200.18 (Cu), 118.70-313.65 (Zn), 50.77-310.85 (Cr), 37.12-92.72 (Pb) and 13.29-197.24 (As), and Cu, Zn and As have been regarded as the main metal pollutants. The levels of PBDEs (1.2-12.1 ng/g) and BDE-209 (2.4-30.5 ng/g) were at the middle level of the global range. BDE-209 was the predominant congener (67.0%-85.7%), which agrees with the fact that technical deca-BDE mixtures are the dominant PBDE formulation in China. The relative high level of PTS pollutants in the western part of the city is probably owing to the intensive agricultural activities and lack of sewerage system there. The ecological risk assessment with the sediment quality guidelines (SOGs) indicates that the urban river sediments in the city have been heavily contaminated by heavy metals with probable ecotoxicological impacts on freshwater organisms and the main toxic pollutants are Hg and As. The results of current study imply that the city, and perhaps many other small cities in China as well, requires immediate pollution control measures with emphasis on not only conventional organic pollutants but also on PTS such as heavy metals and PBDEs.