title: Congener-specific accumulation and environmental risk assessment of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in diverse Korean sewage sludge types.
abstract: Industrial, domestic wastewater, and livestock sludge samples were collected from 23 wastewater treatment plants in Korea and analyzed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The concentrations of Σ19PBDE ranged from 4.01 to 10,400 ng/g dry weight. The average Σ19PBDE concentrations in industrial, domestic wastewater, and livestock sludge were 1,560 ± 3,610, 402 ± 148, and 27.6 ± 50.4 ng/g dry weight, respectively. The composition of PBDEs differed according to the type of sludge. Among the PBDE congeners, BDE 209 was dominant in all sludge samples. After BDE 209, relatively high levels were found for BDE 28 and 47 from industrial sludge, BDE 47 and 99 from domestic wastewater sludge, and BDE 206, 207, and 208 from livestock sludge. Using hierarchical cluster analysis, sludges were divided into three groups according to PBDE congener composition. A risk assessment of PBDEs in sludge used for soil amendment was carried out. Preliminary results indicated that the potential risk of soil exposed to PBDEs in sludge was relatively low.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Industry, Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, Gyeongsang National University, Tongyeong, 650-160, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyo Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chang Joon
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Gi Hoon
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Sang Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Won Joon
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Gi Beum
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis*; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D056910:Republic of Korea; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012722:Sewage / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; D012722:Sewage; C511295:2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether; C512044:2,2',3,3',4,4',5,5',6-nonabromodiphenyl ether; C533760:tribromodiphenyl ether 28; C010902:decabromobiphenyl ether