Distribution and transportability of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) in the Asia-Pacific region using skipjack tuna as a bioindicator.
The geographical distribution of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) was investigated through analysis of muscle tissue of skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) collected from offshore waters of Asia-Pacific region (Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia, Seychelles, Brazil, Japan Sea, East China Sea, South China Sea, Indian Ocean and North Pacific Ocean). HBCD was detected in almost all samples analyzed (<0.1 to 45 ng/g lipid weight basis), indicating widespread presence of this compound in the marine environment. Elevated concentrations of HBCD were found in skipjack tuna from areas around Japan, which have the larger modern industrial/urban societies, and implicated these areas as primary regional sources. All three individual HBCD isomers (alpha-, gamma- and beta-HBCD) were detected in almost all samples; the percentage contribution of the alpha-isomer to total HBCD increased with increasing latitude. The estimated empirical 1/2 distance for alpha-HBCD was 8500 km, which is one of the highest atmospheric transportability among various halogenated persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
Ueno
Daisuke
D
National Water Research Institute, Environment Canada, 867 Lakeshore Road, P.O. Box 5050, Burlington ON L7R 4A6, Canada. ueno@qg8.so-net.ne.jp <ueno@qg8.so-net.ne.jp>
Alaee
Mehran
M
Marvin
Chris
C
Muir
Derek C G
DC
Macinnis
Gordia
G
Reiner
Eric
E
Crozier
Patrick
P
Furdui
Vasile I
VI
Subramanian
Annamalai
A
Fillmann
Gilberto
G
Lam
Paul K S
PK
Zheng
Gene J
GJ
Muchtar
Muswerry
M
Razak
Hamidah
H
Prudente
Maricar
M
Chung
Kyu-hyuck
KH
Tanabe
Shinsuke
S
D000818:Animals; D001208:Asia; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D020387:Food Chain; D005843:Geography; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated / Q000032:analysis*; D007220:Industrial Waste; D009132:Muscles / Q000737:chemistry; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D012623:Seawater; D014413:Tuna / Q000378:metabolism*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D005411:Flame Retardants; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; D007220:Industrial Waste; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C089796:hexabromocyclododecane