title: Monitoring of hexabromocyclododecane diastereomers in fish from European freshwaters and estuaries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) is a brominated flame retardant used mainly in polystyrene foam as well as in textile applications. In recent years, measures were taken to reduce HBCD emissions during its production and use. To evaluate the efficacy of these measures, a monitoring project was initiated with fish as bioaccumulation indicators.
  
  
  METHODS
  Since 2007 bream was sampled annually at several European freshwater sites applying standardized methods. Muscle samples were analyzed by a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method which allows the quantification of α-, β-, and γ-diastereomers of HBCD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In most samples, α-HBCD was predominant. The lowest HBCD levels (11 μg/kg lipid weight (lw), sum of three HBCD diastereomers) were detected in bream sampled in 2009 from Lake Belau which is situated in a rural area of Northern Germany. During the 4-year study period, statistical significant decreases of HBCD concentrations were detected in bream from the rivers Rhone (France; -85%, level 2010, 205 μg/kg lw) and Western Scheldt (the Netherlands; -60%, level 2010, 36 μg/kg lw). High HBCD concentrations (9,480-14,500 μg/kg lw) without a clear time trend were observed in bream from the river Tees (UK). These high levels are in line with published data for fish from contaminated regions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, the results indicate that environmental burdens of HBCD are decreasing at those locations where point sources and more diffuse emissions are expected.
authors.affiliation: Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (Fraunhofer IME), 57392 Schmallenberg, Germany. heinz.ruedel@ime.fraunhofer.de
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rüdel
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quack
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Klein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001699:Biometry; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003530:Cyprinidae / Q000254:growth & development; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005060:Europe; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis; D005412:Flatfishes / Q000254:growth & development; D005618:Fresh Water; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D009132:Muscles / Q000737:chemistry*; D012623:Seawater; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D013997:Time Factors; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005411:Flame Retardants; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; D008055:Lipids; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C089796:hexabromocyclododecane