title: Review on the occurrence and profiles of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in the Philippines.
abstract: The environmental occurrence of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) has been a subject of concern for the past decade because they are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic. These compounds have been listed as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) by the Stockholm Convention and are expected to disperse in the global environment even after their use and production. While the occurrence of PBDEs has been well characterized in environmental and biological samples from North America, Europe, and some Asian countries (i.e. China, Japan, and Korea), there is a scarcity of available data in developing Asian countries, such as the Philippines. Examination of PBDE contamination in the Philippine environment is particularly important because regulations have only recently been implemented on the production and use of PBDEs in this country. Additionally, the Philippines receives e-waste from Western countries, which is becoming a major source of organic contaminants in the tropical Asian regions. Ultimately, the Philippines may be a hot spot for contributing to on-going global PBDE pollution due to long-range atmospheric transport. This paper presents a review of the available literature on PBDEs in both environmental and biological samples collected from the Philippines. It is also intended to provide an overview on the levels and congener profiles of PBDEs in samples from the Philippines and to compare these data with other Asian countries. New data are presented on PBDE occurrence and congener profiles in fish commonly consumed by Filipinos and in particulate matter samples collected in Metro Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Both studies contribute to the available knowledge of PBDEs in the Philippines. We aim to stress the importance of future studies in countries receiving e-wastes, such as the Philippines, and suggest what future directions might be taken to enhance the available data on the presence of PBDEs in the Philippine environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA. Electronic address: susie.mackintosh@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mackintosh
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA. Electronic address: jswallac@buffalo.edu.
authors.forename: Joshua S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA. Electronic address: msgross@buffalo.edu.
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines. Electronic address: dmdnavarrow@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Denise D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Great Lakes Center, The State University of New York- Buffalo State, Buffalo, NY 14222, USA. Electronic address: perezfa@buffalostate.edu.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pérez-Fuentetaja
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Ecosystem Protection Research Division, Water Science and Technology Directorate, Environment Canada, Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6, Canada. Electronic address: mehran.alaee@ec.gc.ca.
authors.forename: Mehran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alaee
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines. Electronic address: dbmontecastro@addu.edu.ph.
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Montecastro
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA. Electronic address: dianaaga@buffalo.edu.
authors.forename: Diana S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Aga
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D059029:Electronic Waste / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D005399:Fishes; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D010679:Philippines; D017747:Seafood / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D052638:Particulate Matter; C010902:decabromobiphenyl ether
keywords: Electronic wastes, Market fish, and Brominated flame retardants; Particulate matter; Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)