Brominated flame retardants in tree bark from North America.
Brominated flame retardants were measured in 87 tree bark samples from 29 locations in North America. The concentrations of total polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) ranged from 2.3 to 5700 ng/g lipid weight, with the highest concentrations found near or in Arkansas. A simple radial dilution model nicely describes the distribution of total PBDE concentrations in these samples and indicates the likely sources ofthese chemicals are emissions from the two brominated flame retardant manufacturing facilities, operated by Great Lakes Chemicals and Albemarle, located in southern Arkansas. The congener profiles of PBDEs are similar for all the tree bark samples and can be described by a mixture of the congener profiles of the penta- and deca-BDE commercial products combined in a ratio of 1:2. Two unusual BFRs, 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane and decabromodiphenyl ethane, were also detected in tree bark samples collected in Arkansas, suggesting the two manufacturing facilities are the sources of these compounds as well. A polybrominated biphenyl congener (BB-153) was present in most tree bark samples at low levels relative to the PBDEs.
Zhu
Lingyan
L
School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA.
Hites
Ronald A
RA
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D008954:Models, Biological; D009656:North America; D010647:Phenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis*; D028223:Pinus / Q000737:chemistry; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry*; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D029963:Quercus / Q000737:chemistry; D014197:Trees / Q000737:chemistry*; D034403:Ulmus / Q000737:chemistry
D000393:Air Pollutants; D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D010647:Phenyl Ethers; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; C086401:pentabromodiphenyl ether