Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in background surface soils from the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), China: occurrence, sources, and inventory.
OBJECTIVE
Very few data for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were available in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), one of the most developed and urbanized region in China. In this study, Chongming Island, located at the estuary of the Yangtze River, was selected as background area to investigate the occurrence, sources, and inventory of PBDEs.


METHODS
Forty-two PBDE congeners were determined in surface soils from farmland, woodland, grassland, tideland, and road collected in Chongming Island.


RESULTS
The mean concentrations of Sigma26PBDE (not including BDE-209) and BDE-209 in soils were 0.76 and 12 ng/g dry weight, respectively. BDE-209 contributed more than 90% of the total of 27 frequently detected BDE congeners, followed by BDE-99 and BDE-47. Weak correlations were found between total organic carbon content and PBDE congeners concentrations in surface soils. PBDE levels varied with land use. Farmland and woodland soils contained higher Sigma26PBDE concentrations. BDE-209 levels were the highest in road soils. The mass inventories of PBDEs in soils of Chongming Island were estimated at 3.1 and 310 kg for Sigma26PBDEs and BDE-209, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The PBDE levels in Chongming Island were similar to those in European background soils, suggesting minimum influence of pollutants from the YRD via air, and wastewater inputs or few PBDE products were used herein. From the standpoint of eco-inland, more studies are needed to explore the reasons of PBDE difference by land use and to assess people intake PBDEs via agriculture products consumption in this region.
Duan
Yan-Ping
YP
State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
Meng
Xiang-Zhou
XZ
Yang
Chao
C
Pan
Zhao-Yu
ZY
Chen
Ling
L
Yu
Ran
R
Li
Feng-Ting
FT
D002681:China; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D005843:Geography; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis*; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014881:Water Supply
D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants