Current Levels and Trends of Brominated Flame Retardants in the Environment (original) (raw)
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Levels and trends of brominated flame retardants in the Arctic
Chemosphere, 2006
In this paper, we review those data which have recently become available for brominated flame retardants (particularly the brominated diphenyl ethers (BDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)) in samples from the European environment. Environmental compartments studied comprise the atmosphere, sediments and soils, sewage sludges, and a variety of biological samples and food chains. This is currently a very active research area, and we cite over 70 studies reported in the literature during 2003-04. Findings include that the input of BDEs (especially BDE209) to the Baltic Sea by atmospheric deposition now exceeds that of PCBs by a factor of almost 40 times. Sewage sludge samples from both industrial and background locations show concentrations of BDEs, HBCD and tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBP-A) that are of a similar order, indicating that the major source is from diffuse leaching from products into wastewater streams from users, households and industries generally. Point-sources from industries using BFRs (e.g. the textile industry) also generate local hotspots. Sediment core studies identified the presence of two of the three PBDE formulations. The penta-mix formulation was clearly present from the beginning of the 1970s, but the deca-mix only appeared in the late 1970s. BDE183, BDE209 and HBCD were detected in peregrine falcons from Sweden and other birds feeding on terrestrial food chains. BDEs are found widely distributed in fish, including those from high mountain lakes in Europe, as a consequence of long-range atmospheric transport and deposition. A temporal trend study in archived freeze-dried mussels from the Seine estuary, France, indicated an exponential increase in BDE concentrations during the period 1982-1993, which levelled off in 1999 and 2001 and then began to decline after 2002. HBCD was detected in liver and blubber samples from harbour seals and harbour porpoises from the Wadden and North Seas, though very few animals yielded positive values for TBBP-A. There are difficulties in comparing data on ∑BDE from studies in which different suites of BDE congeners have been determined, and we suggest a common suite which will allow the study of all three commercial PBDE formulations.
Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are used as additive or reactive components in a variety of polymers including high-impact polystyrene and epoxy resins, commercial products such as computers, electronics and electrical equipment, thermal insulation, textiles and furniture foam. There were over 75 different BFRs in the market; some of them were restricted/banned from production and use due to their environmental persistence, bioaccumulation and toxic effects on organisms. Of the many BFRs still on the market, brominated bisphenols, decabrominated diphenyl ethers, and cyclododecanes are three major classes which represent the highest production volumes. Recent studies have revealed that environmental contamination and toxic health effects by high production volume BFRs continues to be of concern. Trend monitoring studies are useful in understanding the historical perspectives, current status and also help to predict future trends of environmental contamination by these compounds. This chapter deals with the environmental contamination status and temporal trends of polybrominated diphenylethers in a variety of environmental and biological matrices, including soil, sediment, wildlife, marine and terrestrial mammals from Pacific Basin countries.
Environmental science & technology, 2017
This paper presents the first comprehensive survey of 19 novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) in soil samples collected across five Asian countries. High variability in concentrations of all NBFRs was found in soils with the geometric mean (GM) values ranging from 0.50 ng/g dry weight (dw) in Vietnam to 540 ng/g dw in the vicinity of a BFR-manufactory in China. In urban/rural/background locations, the GM concentrations of ∑19NBFRs decreased in the order of Japan > South Korea > China > India > Vietnam. Correlations among different NBFR compounds were positive and statistically significant (p < 0.05), suggesting that they originate from similar sources. Evidences for simultaneous application between polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and NBFRs were also noted. Principal component analysis of NBFR concentrations revealed specific pollution sources for different NBFRs coming from urban, BFR-related industrial, and e-waste sites. For the first time, this study de...
Brominated flame retardant concentrations and trends in abiotic media
Chemosphere, 2006
BFR burdens in abiotic media have been less studied than in biota, despite their essential value as an aide to identifying sources, temporal and geographic trends and exposure routes. Many polymer products consist of several percent by weight of BFRs. Global trade in these can result in rapid and wholesale BFR movement. Loss from in-use products of nonreactive BFRs may be important, particularly in respect to indoor exposure. In the case of BDE-209, discharges from publicly owned treatment works may be substantial. BFR burdens in air, water and sewage sludge respond rapidly to changes in environmental BFR inputs. PBDEs have been the most widely studied. In many locales PBDE burdens in these media now surpass those of PCBs. Air and water near sources and urban areas are typically enriched relative to rural locales. The more volatile PBDEs dominate in the vapor phase, while BDE-209 typically predominates on particulates. Evidence exists for long-range transport of the more volatile PBDEs. A greater diversity of BFRs (mostly PBDEs, HBCD and TBBP-A) has been detected in sewage sludges. Land application of these sludges on agricultural fields is one conduit for soil contamination. In general, environmental concentrations of BDE-209 appear to be increasing, while penta-BDE burdens in Europe may have peaked. Sediments function as longer-term integrators of environmental burdens. Concentrations of common BFRs therein may be substantial near point sources. Evidence for debromination in the environment has been limited to date. However, some laboratory and field observations suggest it is possible to a limited extent.
Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants
Science of The Total Environment, 2001
Polybrominated diphenyl ether, PBDE, flame retardants are now a world-wide pollution problem reaching even remote areas. They have been found to bioaccumulate and there are concerns over the health effects of exposure to PBDEs, they also have potential endocrine disrupting properties. They are lipophilic compounds so are easily removed from the aqueous environment and are predicted to sorb onto sediments and particulate matter or to fatty tissue, aiding their distribution throughout the environment. PBDEs are structurally similar to PCBs and DDT and, therefore, their chemical properties, persistence and distribution in the environment follow similar patterns. Concentrations of PBDEs found in environmental samples are now higher than those of PCBs. Evidence to date demonstrates that PBDEs are a growing problem in the environment and concern over their fate and effects is warranted. The manufacture of reactive and additive flame retardants is briefly discussed and their fate and behaviour in the environment is assessed. PBDE toxicology is reviewed and methods of analysis are evaluated. ᮊ
Physiochemical Properties and Environmental Levels of Legacy and Novel Brominated Flame Retardants
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and 'novel' brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) are synthetic chemicals widely used in consumer products to enhance their ignition resistance. Since in most applications, these chemicals are used additively, they can transfer from such products into the environment. PBDEs have been classified as significant pollutants in the environment. Knowledge of PBDE and NBFR physicochemical properties provides information about their potential environmental fate and behaviour. This chapter highlights the most important physiochemical properties such as molecular weight, vapour pressure, octanol/air partitioning coefficient, octanol/water partition coefficient, water solubility and organic carbon/water partitioning coefficient that influence the distribution pattern of these contaminants in the environment. In addition, this chapter provides an evaluation of the concentrations of these chemicals in various environmental media such as indoor and outdoor air, indoor dust, soil and sediment, sewage sludge, biota and food, and human tissues.
Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 2017
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are used as flame retardants, but are of concern due to their potential health risks. PBDEs are ubiquitous in the environment and their occurrence in polar regions highlights the importance of atmospheric transport. As yet, most researches emphasized evaporative and fugitive releases of PBDEs during production, use and waste management phases. However, the recent studies have uncovered the importance of the combustion sources when considering the release of PBDEs into the atmosphere. Nevertheless, complete PBDE emission inventories are lacking, and no global PBDE emissions from combustion sources have been estimated. Therefore, this study estimated the global PBDE emissions from combustion sources and illegal open burning of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and e-waste, as well as evaporative and fugitive releases from commercial PBDE mixtures. We found that combustion sources and illegal open burning of e-waste globally emit PBDEs at 6.75 and 0.255-5.56 tonnes year-1 , and are important PBDE emitters. The effectiveness of reducing human exposure to PBDEs will be minimized and delayed if mitigation of PBDE emissions from combustion sources is ignored. Control of PBDE emissions from combustion sources should be taken along with the ban of commercial PBDE mixtures.
Novel Brominated Flame Retardants in the Environment: a Review
Proceedings of the …, 2010
Introduction To date, at least 75 different brominated flame retardants (Leonards et al., 2008) have been produced. So far, studies have been primarily restricted to three groups: PBDEs, HBCDs, and TBBP-A. Recently some information has become available for other novel ...
Chemosphere, 2014
Polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) are major brominated flame retardants (BFRs) that are now banned or under restrictions in many countries because of their persistence, bioaccumulation potential and toxicity (PBT properties). However, there is a wide range of alternative BFRs, such as decabromodiphenyl ethane and tribromophenol, that are increasingly used as replacements, but which may possess similar hazardous properties. This necessitates hazard and risk assessments of these compounds. For a set of 36 alternative BFRs, we searched 25 databases for chemical property data that are needed as input for a PBT assessment. These properties are degradation half-life, bioconcentration factor (BCF), octanol-water partition coefficient (K ow ), and toxic effect concentrations in aquatic organisms. For 17 of the 36 substances, no data at all were found for these properties. Too few persistence data were available to even assess the quality of these data in a systematic way. The available data for K ow and toxicity show surprisingly high variability, which makes it difficult to identify the most reliable values. We propose methods for systematic evaluations of PBT-related chemical property data that should be performed before data are included in publicly available databases. Using these methods, we evaluated the data for K ow and toxicity in more detail and identified several inaccurate values. For most of the 36 alternative BFRs, the amount and the quality of the PBT-related property data need to be improved before reliable hazard and risk assessments of these substances can be performed.