title: Brominated flame retardants in Korean river sediments, including changes in polybrominated diphenyl ether concentrations between 2006 and 2009.
abstract: Brominated flame retardants were analyzed in sediment samples from the Nakdong River basin, Korea. The total concentrations of the 27 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), including decabrominated diphenyl ether (BDE 209), analyzed were 0.55-300 ng g(-1) dry weight (dw), the BDE 209 concentrations were 0.39-190 ng g(-1) dw, the tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) concentrations were 0.05-150 ng g(-1) dw, and the total hexabromocyclododecane (sum of α-, β-, γ-HBCDs) concentrations were 0.11-19 ng g(-1) dw. The PBDE and HBCD concentrations were comparable to or lower than the concentrations found in sediments from other countries, whereas the TBBPA concentrations were comparable to or higher than the concentrations found in other countries. The TBBPA concentrations were similar to or lower than the PBDE concentrations, even though more than twice as much TBBPA as total PBDEs is consumed in Korea, and this phenomenon was probably caused by TBBPA and PBDEs being used differently during the manufacture of products, and their different half-lives in sediment and affinities for the particle phase in aquatic environments. Sediment samples from several sampling sites close to facilities where expandable polystyrene, epoxy, and polycarbonate resins are manufactured and handled had relatively high TBBPA and HBCD concentrations. Temporal changes in the PBDE concentration strongly correlated with temporal variations in the geochemical compositions such as total organic carbon content and grain size value of the sediment. The PBDE and HBCD distribution profiles in the sediment samples indicated that commercial PBDE and HBCD products were released locally.
authors: Marine Environment Research Division, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI), 216, Gijanghaean-ro, Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan 619-705, Republic of Korea.
authors: In-Seok
authors: IS
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pusan National University, 63 Beon-gil 2, Busandaehak-ro, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 609-735, Republic of Korea.
authors: Hee-Hyung
authors: HH
authors: Kang
authors: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pusan National University, 63 Beon-gil 2, Busandaehak-ro, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 609-735, Republic of Korea; Center for Environment, Health and Welfare Research, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), 39-1, Hawolgok-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 139-791, Republic of Korea.
authors: Un-Jung
authors: UJ
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pusan National University, 63 Beon-gil 2, Busandaehak-ro, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 609-735, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jeoh@pusan.ac.kr.
authors: Jeong-Eun
authors: JE
authors: Oh
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis*; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated / Q000032:analysis; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis; D056910:Republic of Korea; D045483:Rivers
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; C089796:hexabromocyclododecane; C020806:tetrabromobisphenol A; C010902:decabromobiphenyl ether
keywords: Brominated flame retardants; Freshwater sediment; Hexabromocyclododecane; Polybrominated diphenyl ethers; Temporal concentration changes; Tetrabromobisphenol A