title: Dynamics of selected pre-existing polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) in municipal wastewater sludge under anaerobic conditions.
abstract: Despite the rapid, widespread accumulation of polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) in our surroundings, their environmental fate has been largely unknown. In the present study, most common congeners (BDE 47, 99, 100, 138, 153, 154, 183 and 209) were investigated for their dynamics in municipal sewage sludge under mesophilic condition (37 degrees C). In anaerobic batch cultures, the concentrations of BDE 47, 99, 100 and 209, exhibited significant decreases (by 22-40% from their initial concentration), whereas the levels of the other congeners, BDE 138, 153, 154 and 183, remained stable during a 238-d incubation. However, in a parallel study conducted in a pilot-scale anaerobic sludge digester, loss of all eight congeners was observed. The present study indicates that certain PBDE congeners undergo a significant mass decrease under anaerobic conditions.
authors.affiliation: National Water Research Institute, Environment Canada, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Seto
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Falletta
authors.forename: Dae-Young
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis*; D007700:Kinetics; D008956:Models, Chemical; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D012722:Sewage; D014866:Waste Products; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical