Atmospheric concentrations of halogenated flame retardants at two remote locations: the Canadian High Arctic and the Tibetan Plateau.
Atmospheric concentrations of halogenated flame retardants (FRs) were monitored for approximately one year at two remote stations, namely Nam Co on the Tibetan Plateau and Alert in the Canadian High Arctic. BDE-47 and 99 were the dominant polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners at both sites. Atmospheric PBDE concentrations in Nam Co were generally lower than those at Alert. While significant seasonal variations were observed for PBDEs at Alert, the FR concentrations at Nam Co showed no significant seasonality, even though air masses originated from distinctly different regions during different seasons. This suggests that FRs in Tibet do not have regional sources, but are reflective of truly global background contamination. Three new FRs, namely 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane (BTBPE), 2-ethyl-1-hexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (EHTeBB) and bis(2-ethyl-1-hexyl)tetrabromophthalate (TBPH) were detected at relatively high concentrations at both sites. This is the first report of these FRs in the remote global atmosphere and suggests significant potential for long-range atmospheric transport.
Environment Canada, Science and Technology Branch, Toronto, ON M3H 5T4, Canada. hang.xiao@ec.gc.ca
Hang
H
Xiao
Li
L
Shen
Yushan
Y
Su
Enzo
E
Barresi
Maryl
M
Dejong
Hayley
H
Hung
Ying-Duan
YD
Lei
Frank
F
Wania
Eric J
EJ
Reiner
Ed
E
Sverko
Shi-Chang
SC
Kang
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001110:Arctic Regions; D001272:Atmosphere / Q000737:chemistry*; D001969:Bromobenzenes / Q000032:analysis; D002170:Canada; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis*; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D018609:Tibet
D000393:Air Pollutants; D001969:Bromobenzenes; D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds; C526360:dechlorane plus; C081014:1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane