title: Decabromodiphenyl ether (deca-BDE) commercial mixture components, and other PBDEs, in airborne particles at a UK site.
abstract: The occurrence of the major components of the decabromodiphenyl ether (deca-BDE) flame retardant and other PBDEs was investigated in daily air particulate samples from 17th April to 20th May 2004 at a semi-rural site in north-west England. BDE-209 was found at between <0.49 and 100 pg m(-3) (median 13 pg m(-3)), and other higher-brominated PBDE congeners were also found, particularly the nona-BDEs (e.g. BDE-207: <0.042-79 pg m(-3), median 2.5 pg m(-3)). Deca- and nona-BDEs dominated the median particulate sample congener profile: 60% BDE-209, 16% BDE-207, 6% BDE-208 and 4% BDE-206. Nona-BDEs were greatly enriched, relative to BDE-209, compared to the deca-BDE commercial mixture, which may suggest degradation of BDE-209 between source and sampling site, or release from older deca-BDE commercial mixtures, which may have contained higher proportions of nona-BDEs. The highest PBDE concentrations occurred when air-masses passed over urban and industrial areas to the SSW-SW, though small local influences may also be seen. PBDE concentrations appear to have been influenced mainly by particle levels: 1-3 microm diameter particles for BDE-153, and 3-10 microm particles for BDEs with 7-10 Br atoms. BDE-153 may either be released from combustion sources, or re-condense onto small particles after emission, whereas BDE-209 and nona-BDEs appear to be associated with larger dust particles from industrial or domestic sources.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, Institute of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK.
authors.forename: Bryony H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Wilford
authors.forename: Gareth O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Kevin C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Davison
authors.forename: Debra K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Hurst
mesh_terms: D000392:Air Movements; D000397:Air Pollution; D004739:England; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000737:chemistry*; D010647:Phenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis*; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D052638:Particulate Matter; D010647:Phenyl Ethers; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; C086401:pentabromodiphenyl ether; C010902:decabromobiphenyl ether