title: Major sources of MeO/OH-BDEs in the East China Sea elucidated from their records and phytoplankton biomarkers.
abstract: Hydroxylated (OH-) and methoxylated (MeO-) polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have caused much concern because of their potential toxicity and worldwide distribution. These compounds are recently suggested to originate from the natural process in the ocean. However, their source remains highly controversial. In this study, we analyzed the contents of nine MeO-BDEs, ten OH-BDEs, and phytoplankton biomarkers (PBs) in two sediment cores collected from the East China Sea (ECS). The detection of 6-MeO-BDE-47, 2'-MeO-BDE-68, and 6-OH-BDE-47 have been reported since the 1920s, prior to the production of PBDEs. Significant relations were found between MeO/OH-BDEs and indicators of marine organic matters. The similar down-core variations and significant correlations between MeO/OH-BDEs and PBs suggest the possibility that phytoplankton produced these natural compounds. Laboratory incubation further demonstrates that phytoplankton can produce MeO-BDEs. Comparisons between the content ratios of 6-MeO-BDE-47/2'-MeO-BDE-68 and brassicasterol/dinosterol indicate that the signature of MeO-BDEs is controlled by the phytoplankton community structure.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ocean University of China, Ministry of Education/Qingdao Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266100, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Earth Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-An
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ocean University of China, Ministry of Education/Qingdao Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266100, China.
authors.forename: Meixun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ocean University of China, Ministry of Education/Qingdao Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266100, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China. Electronic address: zhaozongshan@ouc.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Zongshan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China.
authors.forename: Guoliang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China.
authors.forename: Jianteng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China.
authors.forename: Guibin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000840:Anisoles / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002681:China; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis*; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D010839:Phytoplankton / Q000378:metabolism*; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: C496823:2-(2',4'-dibromophenoxy)-3,5-dibromoanisole; C496824:2-(2',4'-dibromophenoxy)-4,6-dibromoanisole; C580599:6-OH-BDE-47; D000840:Anisoles; D015415:Biomarkers; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; C511295:2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether
keywords: East China Sea; Historical trend; MeO-BDEs; OH-BDEs; Phytoplankton biomarker; Source