Occurrence, sources, and inventory of hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) in soils from Chongming Island, the Yangtze River Delta (YRD)

Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) is a concern due to their large usage combining with physico-chemical properties and toxicity to wildlife and human. However, very limited data were reported on HBCDs in soils, especially from rural area. In this study, 22 soil samples were collected from Chongming Island at estuary of the Yangtze River Delta, to investigate the level, diasteroisomer profile, potential sources, and mass inventory of HBCDs. The total concentrations ranged from not detected to 93.8 pg g⁻¹ dry weight (dw) with a mean of 23.3 pg g⁻¹ dw, which was at the low end of the global levels. The wide distribution of HBCDs in soils suggested that the local emissions of HBCD-containing materials and/or the inputs via atmospheric transport from other regions were two possible sources. Variation of HBCDs levels was observed in different types of soils. Woodland, tideland and road soils contained slightly higher HBCDs than those of farmland and grassland. Overall, γ-HBCD was the dominant diasteroisomer in soils, followed by α-HBCD and β-HBCD. Significant but weak correlations were only found between α-HBCD and β-HBCD versus TOC content in soils. Currently, the mass inventory of HBCDs in soils of Chongming Island was 5.3 kg. Based on these data, we gave perspective on human intake of HBCDs via soil ingestion by age. Local resident’s intakes ranged from 15.5 to 97.8 fg kg body weight⁻¹ d⁻¹, in which children are exposed more than adults.     

Characterization of polychlorinated biphenyls and brominated flame retardants in surface soils from Surabaya, Indonesia

In this study, soil contamination by PCBs, PBDEs, HBCDs and two novel BFRs such as 1,2-bis-(2,4,6-tribromopenoxy) ethane (BTBPE) and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) in various locations such as industrial, urban, rural, dumping site and agricultural areas of Surabaya, Indonesia has been characterized in order to evaluate their contamination status, profiles, potential sources, fate and behavior. Range and median concentrations of PCBs, PBDEs, HBCDs, BTBPE and DBDPE were ND - 9.6 (1.2), 0.069 - 24 (7.4), ND - 1.8 (0.48), ND - 1.7 (0.14) and ND - 7.6 (2.2) ng g⁻¹ dw, respectively. Industrial, urban and dumping areas were inventoried as the main sources of these pollutants. Decreasing gradient levels were observed for these contaminants from industrial district, urban, dumping site, rural and agricultural areas, in that order. Furthermore, organic carbon contents and proximity to the point sources were found as the major controlling factors. Contaminant profiles were characterized by the predominance of hexa-, hepta- and penta-homologues for PCBs; deca-, nona- and octa- for PBDEs and α-isomer for HBCDs. Product mixtures such as Ar1260/KC600 and Ar1254/KC500 for PCBs, deca- and octa-BDEs for PBDEs were the possible common formulations used in study area. To our knowledge, this is a first comprehensive study on characterization of soil contamination by PCBs, PBDEs and HBCDs together with two novel BFRs in a highly industrialized city located in tropical region. This study provides baseline information for establishing national monitoring programs in Indonesia.     

4种典型溴代阻燃剂对离体条件下罗非鱼肝脏抗氧化系统影响的研究

以罗非鱼(Mossambica tilapia)为实验生物,研究了离体条件下其肝脏抗氧化系统中谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量、谷胱甘肽硫转移酶(GST)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性对4种溴代阻燃剂(Brominated flame retardants,BFRs)——四溴联苯醚(BDE-47)、十溴联苯醚(BDE-209)、六溴环十二烷(HBCD)和四溴双酚A(TBBPA)的响应.研究结果表明:离体暴露于4种BFRs 1 h后,罗非鱼肝脏上清液中GSH含量和SOD活性随暴露剂量升高均呈现先升高后回落的趋势,但总体均高于对照组水平;GST活性则被抑制.上述3种抗氧化参数中,同一参数对4种BFRs响应均呈现一致的变化趋势,其中GST和SOD活性响应更为灵敏.GST活性对BDE-47、BDE-209和HBCD的最低响应浓度均低于1 ng·L-1,且与TBBPA和BDE-209在一定浓度范围内存在较好的剂量-效应关系;SOD活性对4种BFRs暴露较为敏感,最低响应浓度均低于10 ng·L-1,并且与除BDE-209外的上述3种污染物在一定的浓度范围内具有良好的剂量-效应关系.因此,GST和SOD活性指标是值得进一步研究的溴代阻燃剂污染候选生物标志物.     

环境中六溴环十二烷的修复技术研究进展

六溴环十二烷（hexabromocyclododecane,HBCD）是一种非芳香的溴代环烷烃,作为阻燃剂被广泛应用于塑料、泡沫、纤维、纺织品、电子产品及其他有机材料中,也可以作为聚乙烯、聚碳酸酯、不饱和聚酯等塑料的阻燃添加剂。HBCD作为一种持久性有机污染物,能够在环境中长期积累、迁移和转化,对人类和环境构成潜在的的危害。随着全球 HBCD 用量的增加,HBCD造成的水体及土壤的污染也越来越严重,因此环境中HBCD修复技术的研究也日益成为各个国家和地区研究的热点之一。文章综述了近年来国内外关于 HBCD 的去除或降解技术,包括物理修复、化学修复和生物修复,同时阐述了各个修复方法的原理、条件及优缺点。重点介绍了光降解和微生物降解这两种修复方法：光降解是一种利用光照和催化剂使水体中 HBCD 发生降解的修复方法,该方法去除效率高、清洁环保,但发生条件高,并且成本较高;微生物降解是指利用环境中的某种微生物来实现HBCD降解的,HBCD在厌氧条件下的降解效率明显高于好氧的条件,微生物降解具有不产生二次污染、降解彻底等优点,但相关研究还很少,发展还不成熟。目前开展 HBCD 植物修复研究的报道也很少,因此探讨利用植物修复HBCD的研究应该成为今后此类工作的研究重点之一。关于未来HBCD修复研究的方向,作者认为光降解和微生物降解仍然是 HBCD 修复的主要研究重点;还可以尝试采用两种或两种以上的修复方法联用以达到满意的修复效果;另外,微生物共代谢等修复方法也是今后发展的主要方向。     

环境中多溴联苯醚分析方法的研究进展

多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)是一类性能优异的阻燃剂,被广泛添加到工业产品和日常生活用品中.研究表明很多PBDEs单体具有持久性有机污染物(POPs)的特性,其中五溴和八溴联苯醚已被列入POPs清单.它们在环境中广泛存在,对环境和生态系统带来健康风险.本文概述了环境中PBDEs的前处理方法和仪器分析的研究进展,对不同的方法进行了综述和比较,并提出了PBDEs分析方法研究的发展趋势.     

Dietary intake of hexabromocyclododecane diastereoisomers (α-, β-, and γ-HBCD) in the Belgian adult population

A study was performed to assess exposure of the Belgian population to HBCD diastereoisomers. Measurements of HBCD were performed by UPLC-MS/MS, on 45 composite samples from 5 major food groups: dairy (products), meat (products), eggs, fish (products) and a group of “other” products. The medium bound estimated average daily intake (EDI) of ΣHBCD in the Belgian population was 0.99 ng kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹. The diastereoisomer contribution to the mean EDI showed a predominance of γ-HBCD at 67%, followed by α-HBCD at 25% and 8% for β-HBCD. These results are consistent with the pattern found in the two food groups contributing the most to the EDI: meat (products) and the group of “other” products. Anyway, it has to be noted that diastereomeric distribution of HBCD can change due to bioisomerisation in biological material. Levels of HBCD diastereoisomers found in Belgian food samples of animal origin were low in comparison with those found in other EU countries and the resulting EDI was substantially below the proposed thresholds.     

Characterization of polychlorinated biphenyls and brominated flame retardants in sludge,sediment and fish from municipal dumpsite at Surabaya,Indonesia

We investigated the PCBs, PBDEs and HBCDs contamination in sludge, sediments and fish from various locations including raw leachate pond, leachate treatment plans (LTPs), control wells and reference site at open landfill of municipal dumpsite, Surabaya City, Indonesia. 62 PCBs and 14 PBDEs congeners, and 3 HBCDs isomers were identified and quantified using GC–MS and LC–MS/MS, respectively. Concentration ranges and median (value in parentheses) of PCBs, PBDEs and HBCDs were from not detected (ND) to 60 (3.9) ng g⁻¹ dw, 0.0075 to 45 (4.5) ng g⁻¹ dw and ND to 2.8 (0.052) ng g⁻¹ dw in sludge and sediments, respectively. While in two polled of fish samples were 30–55 ng g⁻¹ lw, 6.6–11 ng g⁻¹ lw and 1.6–3.3 ng g⁻¹ lw, respectively. Among the sampling sites, the highest level of PCBs and PBDEs were detected in sludge from raw leachate pond. However, PCBs and PBDEs levels were showing decreased in LTP-1 that could be due to the bacterial degradation but not in LTP-2, HBCDs were more stable in both LTPs. Levels of PCBs and BFRs in sludge at the present study were lower than those reported in sewage sludge reported from some other countries. PCBs profiles were mainly composed in that order by CB-138, -153, -180, -101, -118 and -28, while by BDE-47, -99, -100, -153, -154 and -28 for PBDEs in sludge, sediments and fish. Profiles of HBCDs were predominantly composed by γ- and α-isomers in sludge and fish, respectively. Debromination, dechlorination, commercial formulations used and congener-specific accumulation of those contaminants are the factors influenced the profiles.     

Oxidative transformation of polybrominated diphenyl ether congeners (PBDEs) and of hydroxylated PBDEs (OH-PBDEs)

BACKGROUND, AIM, AND SCOPE: The historical and widespread use of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) as flame retardants in consumer products worldwide has caused PBDEs to now be regarded as pervasive environmental contaminants. Most recently, hydroxylated PBDEs (OH-PBDEs) and methoxylated PBDEs (MeO-PBDEs) have emerged as environmentally relevant due to reports of their natural production and metabolism. An important parameter for assessing the environmental impact of a chemical substance is persistence. By formulating the concept that persistence is the result of the substance's physicochemical properties and chemical reactivity, Green and Bergman have proposed a new methodology to determine the inherent persistence of a chemical. If persistence could be predicted by straightforward methods, substances with this quality could be screened out before large-scale production/manufacturing begins. To provide data to implement this concept, we have developed new methodologies to study chemical transformations through photolysis; hydrolysis, substitution, and elimination; and via oxidation. This study has focused on adapting an oxidative reaction method to be applicable to non-water soluble organic pollutants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PBDEs and one MeO-PBDE were dissolved in tetrahydrofuran/methanol and then diluted in alkaline water. The OH-PBDEs were dissolved in alkaline water prior to reaction. The oxidation degradation reaction was performed at 50 degrees C using potassium permanganate as described elsewhere. The pH was maintained at 7.6 with disodium hydrogen phosphate and barium hydrogen phosphate, the latter also serving as a trapping agent for manganate ions. The oxidation reactions were monitored by high-performance liquid chromatography and reaction rates were calculated. RESULTS: The OH-PBDEs have very fast oxidative transformation rates compared to the PBDEs. The reaction rates seem to be primarily dependent on substitution pattern of the pi-electron-donating bromine substituents and of bromine content. There are indications that further reactions of OH-PBDEs, e.g., methylation to the MeO-PBDEs, decrease the oxidation rates, and thereby generate more persistent substances. DISCUSSION: The resistance of PBDEs to oxidation, a major degradation pathway in air, should be further investigated, since these compounds do undergo long range transport. With slight modifications, the original method has been adapted to include a larger variety of chemical substances, and preliminary data are now available on the oxidative transformation rates for PBDEs and of OH-PBDEs. CONCLUSIONS: The original oxidation degradation method can now include non-water soluble compounds. This modification, using low concentrations of test chemicals, allows us to measure oxidative transformation rates, for some of the lower brominated DEs, data that can be used to assess their persistence in future model calculations. Oxidative transformation rates for PBDEs are slow compared to those for the OH-PBDEs. This suggests that OH-PBDEs, when released into the environment, undergo faster oxidative metabolism and excretion than the PBDEs. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: To evaluate the modified method, more degradation reactions with non-water soluble compounds should be investigated. Recent studies show that OH-PBDEs are present in rats and in humans and, because of their activity as endocrine disruptors, determining their subsequent environmental fate is of importance. The resistance of PBDEs to oxidative degradation should be acknowledged as of possible future concern. Several other compound classes (such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs), and pharmaceuticals) need to be subjected to this screening method to increase the database of transformation rates that can be used with this model.     

Bioaccumulation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in harbor seals from the northwest Atlantic

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were analyzed in blubber of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina concolor) collected between 1991 and 2005 along the northwest Atlantic. ∑PBDE concentrations (mono- to hexa-BDEs) detected in blubber samples (n = 42) ranged from 80 to 25 720 ng g⁻¹ lw, (overall mean 2403 ± 5406 ng g⁻¹ lw). By age, mean ∑PBDE concentrations were: 3645 ± 7388, 2945 ± 5995, 1385 ± 1265, and 326 ± 193 ng g⁻¹ lw in pups, yearlings, adult males, and adult females, respectively. Unlike the trend for PCBs, no decreasing gradient from urban to rural/remote areas was observed for PBDEs in these samples, likely reflecting inputs from local sources. No significant temporal trend was observed for PBDEs in harbor seals between 1991 and 2005, although congener profiles shifted over time. Tetra-BDE-47 was the dominant congener, followed by BDEs-99, -100, -153, -154, and -155 in varying order, suggesting exposure to the penta-BDE product. In adult males, the hexa-BDEs contributed more to the total (22%) than BDEs-99 and -100 (14%), and concentrations of BDE-155 were elevated compared with -154. Higher BDEs were detected in a subset of seals (n = 12) including hepta-BDE-183, the marker for the octa-BDE mixture, and octa-BDE-197, along with several unidentified hepta- and octa- congeners. BDE-209 was detected in seal blubber at concentrations ranging from 1.1 to 8 ng g⁻¹ lw, indicating that deca-BDE is bioavailable in this marine food web. This is the first study to document the accumulation of BDE-209 at measurable levels in wild harbor seals. While the PBDE patterns in blubber indicate exposure to all three BDE commercial mixtures, the data also suggest that BDE-209 debromination by seal prey fish may contribute to the loading of lower brominated congeners (hexa- to octa-BDEs) in these seals.     

溴阻燃剂对环境安全性的影响

溴阻燃剂(Brominated fire retardants,BFRs)的生产和使用对人类自身健康及其居住环境的影响问题,特别是“二恶英”(Dioxins)的问题,已引起全球范围广泛的重视。欧盟“限制电子电器产品中有害物质”的指令(RoHS)明确规定限制某些溴阻燃剂的使用。笔者就溴阻燃剂近十年来在空气、下水道淤泥和沉积物等非生命环境体系以及动物和人等生命体系的分布情况进行了综合分析,结果发现溴阻燃剂在非生命和生命环境体系中均有增加的趋势。对溴阻燃剂在生物体内的富集和放大作用研究发现,部分溴阻燃剂会在生物体内富集并表现出一定的放大作用。笔者对我国阻燃剂的发展方向提出了见解和建议。