Identifying Sources of PBDEs in the Canadian Arctic (original) (raw)
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Investigation of PBDEs in Landfill Leachates from Across Canada
Environmental Management and Sustainable Development, 2014
Leachates from 27 landfills (e.g. planned disposal area) across southern Canada and 11 dump sites (e.g. unorganized disposal area) in the Canadian North were collected (2006) and analysed (2006-2008) for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). There was wide variability in the results, both in terms of the total PBDE concentrations and in the distribution of congeners. Northern sites tended to have lower concentrations than southern ones, but some northern levels were significant, despite the low population density and lack of industry in the north. The North could potentially act as a sink for PBDE contaminants because many organic compounds get deposited via air or water currents in the North even though they were not manufactured there.
Chemosphere, 2002
Environmental levels and detailed congener profiles (31 congeners and 3 coeluting congener groups) of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were assessed in a number of biota samples taken over a large geographic range covering harbours and industrial sites on Canada's West Coast. Additionally, PBDE congener profiles were determined using semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) deployed in the Fraser River, the river in Western Canada with the largest industrial activity. PBDE levels detected in biota were between 4 and 2300 ng/g lipid and these levels were compared with those reported in selected European biota to provide a wider perspective on PBDE contamination on Canada's West Coast. Thirteen-congener PBDE patterns in the environmental samples were examined using principal component analysis (PCA), and additionally, comparisons were made between the PBDE profiles in the sample groups and commercially used PBDE technical mixtures (e.g., Bromkals) on a percent composition basis. PCA on congener specific data revealed that PBDE patterns are remarkably similar over a wide geographical range in Western Canada, however, the general pattern in environmental samples varies significantly from those of the predominant technical mixtures. Finally, correlations between PBDE and other persistent and toxic co-occurring contaminants found in Dungeness crab were determined.
Journal of Analytical Science and Technology, 2019
Background: The selection of soil fraction is an important influencing factor to accurately determine human exposure risk to toxic chemicals in the environment. The present study evaluated the concentrations of prevalent polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in different size fractions of soil from a landfill site and the factors that influence their distribution in the soils. Method: Samples were fractionated into size fractions; between 150-250 and 45-150 μm (after initial sieving through a 250 μm sieve) and, thereafter, PBDEs were extracted using a mixture of toluene-dichloromethane and subsequently cleaned with a multilayer silica gel/Pesticarb/sodium sulphate column and analysed using GC-MS. Results: The sum of seven PBDE congeners (BDE-28,-47,-100,-99,-154,-153 and-183) ranged from 7.08 to 10.8 ng g −1 with a total median of 7.32 ng g −1 , and from 7.00 to 8.77 ng g −1 with a total median of 7.21 ng g −1 , corresponding to size fractions 150-250 μm and 45-150 μm, respectively. BDE-183 was predominant in both soil fractions. A significant correlation was observed between ∑ 7 PBDEs concentrations and total organic carbon (TOC), particularly for particle size 150-250 μm (r 2 = 0.829, p < 0.05). Conclusion: The study revealed that PBDE concentrations did not automatically increase with decreasing particle size, and as such, PBDE-treated consumer goods and consequent abrasions of flame retardant-containing materials could be likely sources. The study also clarified that selecting soil fractions arbitrarily for exposure risk assessment may lead to inconclusive results. The study results, therefore, have important inferences for estimating flame retardant chemical exposure.
Modelling the environmental fate of the polybrominated diphenyl ethers
Environment International, 2003
In response to growing alarm over the occurrence of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in remote regions, this study considers their physical chemistry, environmental partitioning and considerations regarding potential for long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT). Internally consistent physical -chemical property data are presented for five representative congeners ) and used in a multimedia modelling approach. Results of the Level II model indicate that PBDEs will largely partition to organic carbon in soil and sediment and that their persistence will be strongly influenced by degradation rates in these media that are not well known. TaPL3 model estimates of their characteristic travel distance (CTD) suggest limited LRAT potential. The LRAT is also evaluated qualitatively, in terms of surface -air exchange behaviour. PBDEs are shown to be sensitive to seasonally and diurnally fluctuating temperatures. When vegetation is included in the model, 50% of the total mass of PBDE-47 deposited to vegetation returns to the atmosphere, suggesting that it may migrate through a series of deposition/volatilisation hops. Key data that needs to be identified in this evaluation include a better understanding of airsurface exchange, particularly to foliage, and measurements of degradation rates in soil, sediment and vegetation. Crown
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 2010
Since polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are known to be present in various species of fish, it is likely that fish processing effluent would contain significant amount of PBDEs. The purpose of this study was to determine the PBDE concentrations in sediments located near fish plant effluent outfalls. The range of concentrations of PBDEs in marine sediments in Canada published in the literature was very similar to the results obtained in this study (0.015-5.12 ng/g, dry weight). The concentrations measured in this study for all three technical mixtures (2.78 9 10 -3 , 1.92 9 10 -3 and 2.02 9 10 -3 mg/kg, respectively) were all below known toxicity thresholds (0.031, 9.1 and 76 mg/kg, respectively).
Science of The Total Environment, 1995
The Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line, a series of radar stations spanning the Canadian Arctic, is closing. In order to determine the environmental status of these installations, the Canadian Department of National Defence has sponsored an assessment of soil contamination, the partial results of which are presented here. A comparison of PCB concentrations in background samples taken from pristine areas near the radar sites and samples taken in remote locations (> 20 km distant) provides evidence for short-range redistribution of PCBs. Principal component analysis, which was used to highlight differences in congener composition, provided confirmation of this observation. The PCB congener signatures for background samples taken at the radar sites correlated well with PCB signatures from contaminated locations at the radar sites. In contrast, the congener signature attributable to atmospheric, or long-range transport, contained a relatively higher proportion of more volatile congeners, which can be attributed to the increased atmospheric residence time.
Atmospheric Environment, 2004
In the first of two papers, the atmospheric poly brominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) concentrations at a municipal solid waste incineration (MSW) plant with electronic recycling is compared with that at an industrial urban reference site producing asphalt and concrete. In the second paper, atmospheric deposition and washout behaviour is presented (Atmos. Environ. (2004a)). PBDEs (BDE28, À47, À66, À100, À154, À153, À183, À209) in the gaseous and particulate phase were measured with high resolution in time during the colder parts of the year to minimise the influence of potential historical pollution at the sites through volatilisation. This also means that reported levels are lower compared to other reported data. Results of BDE47 (TetraBDE) and BDE209 (DecaBDE) as representatives of ''old'' vs. ''new'' PBDEs as well as P PBDE, excluding BDE209, are presented. Median P PBDE, BDE47 and BDE209 concentration were 6.3, 2.1 and 10.4 pg m À3 at the MSW and 3.5, 1.7 and 6.5 pg m À3 at the reference site. The total concentrations (gaseous and particulate phase) were significantly higher at the MSW compared to the reference site for P PBDE and BDE47 but not for BDE209. The same results were obtained regarding concentrations in the gaseous phase. Particle concentrations were significantly higher at the MSW for P PBDE, BDE47 and BDE209. Within each site, the gaseousphase concentration was significantly higher than the particulate-phase concentration except for BDE209 at the MSW. Thus, the proportion of BDE209 detected in the particulate phase was higher at the MSW compared to the reference site. Together with the results of the second paper, we suggest that treatment of waste is presently a source of ''old'' PBDEs to the environment, whereas the rather similar BDE209 concentrations at the two sites are more a result of proximity to potential diffuse sources. r