title: Biotransformation of the flame retardant tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA) by freshwater microalgae.
abstract: Tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA) is the most widely used brominated flame retardant. However, little is known about its biotransformation by algae in aquatic environments. The authors investigated transformations of TBBPA by 6 freshwater green microalgae and identified its transformation products. Transformation experiments were conducted under axenic conditions in a laboratory for 10 d. The results showed that TBBPA could be transformed by the selected microalgae, with nearly complete removal by Scenedesmus quadricauda and Coelastrum sphaericum following 10-d incubation. Five transformation products were positively identified by mass spectrometry: TBBPA sulfate, TBBPA glucoside, sulfated TBBPA glucoside, TBBPA monomethyl ether, and tribromobisphenol-A. The mechanisms involved in the biotransformation of TBBPA include sulfation, glucosylation, O-methylation, and debromination, which could be an important step for its further degradation. This suggests that microalgae can play an important role in the fate of TBBPA in aquatic environments. The present study is the first report on algal transformation of TBBPA, and the proposed transformation products could have significant environmental implications.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Fu-Qiang
authors.initials: FQ
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Guang-Guo
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Ying
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: You-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hua-Jie
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Guang-Jie
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jian-Liang
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D001711:Biotransformation; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D005618:Fresh Water; D054879:Halogenation; D058086:Microalgae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D005411:Flame Retardants; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; C020806:tetrabromobisphenol A
keywords: Algae; Degradation; Metabolite; Tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA); Transformation