title: Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDDs) in surface soils from coastal cities in North China: Correlation between diastereoisomer profiles and industrial activities.
abstract: Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) is a brominated flame retardant with a wide range of industrial applications, although little is known about its patterns of spatial distribution in soils in relation to industrial emissions. This study has undertaken a large-scale investigation around an industrialized coastal area of China, exploring the concentrations, spatial distribution and diastereoisomer profiles of HBCDD in 188 surface soils from 21 coastal cities in North China. The detection frequency was 100% and concentrations of total HBCDD in the surface soils ranged from 0.123 to 363 ng g(-1) and averaged 7.20 ng g(-1), showing its ubiquitous existence at low levels. The spatial distribution of HBCDD exhibited a correlation with the location of known manufacturing facilities in Weifang, suggesting the production of HBCDD as major emission source. Diastereoisomer profiles varied in different cities. Diastereoisomer compositions in soils were compared with emissions from HBCDD industrial activities, and correlations were found between them, which has the potential for source identification. Although the contemporary concentrations of HBCDD in soils from the study were relatively low, HBCDD-containing products (expanded/extruded polystyrene insulation boards) would be a potential source after its service life, and attention needs to be paid to prioritizing large-scale waste management efforts.
authors: State Key Lab of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors: Yueqing
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: State Key Lab of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors: Qifeng
authors: Q
authors: Li
authors: State Key Lab of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China. Electronic address: yllu@rcees.ac.cn.
authors: Yonglong
authors: Y
authors: Lu
authors: Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK.
authors: Kevin
authors: K
authors: Jones
authors: Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK; Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, OX10 8BB, UK.
authors: Andrew J
authors: AJ
authors: Sweetman
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D002947:Cities; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D007221:Industry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D005411:Flame Retardants; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; D012989:Soil Pollutants; C089796:hexabromocyclododecane
keywords: Bohai sea; Brominated flame retardant; Emission source; HBCDD; Soil pollution; Yellow sea