title: Occurrence and distribution of brominated flame retardants and perfluoroalkyl substances in Australian landfill leachate and biosolids.
abstract: The levels of perfluroalkyl substances (PFASs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDDs) were studied in Australian landfill leachate and biosolids. Leachate was collected from 13 landfill sites and biosolids were collected from 16 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), across Australia. Perfluorohexanoate (PFHxA) (12-5700ng/L) was the most abundant investigated persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) chemical in leachate. With one exception, mean concentrations of PFASs were higher in leachate of operating landfills compared to closed landfills. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane isomers (HBCDDs) were detected typically at operating landfills in comparatively lower concentrations than the PFASs. Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) (<0.4-2300ng/g) and perfluoroctanesulfonate (PFOS) (<LOD-380ng/g) were the predominant PBTs detected in biosolids. Using data provided by sites, the volume of leachate discharged to WWTPs for treatment was small (<1% total inflow), and masses of PBTs transferred reached a maximum of 16g/yr (PFHxA). A national estimate of masses of PBTs accumulated in Australian biosolids reached 167kg/yr (BDE-209), a per capita contribution of 7.2±7.2mg/yr. Nationally, approximately 59% of biosolids are repurposed and applied to agricultural land. To our knowledge this study presents the first published data of PFASs and HBCDDs in Australian leachate and biosolids.
authors.affiliation: Entox, The University of Queensland, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, Qld 4108, Australia. Electronic address: c.bentley@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gallen
authors.affiliation: Entox, The University of Queensland, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, Qld 4108, Australia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Drage
authors.affiliation: Entox, The University of Queensland, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, Qld 4108, Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaserzon
authors.affiliation: Entox, The University of Queensland, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, Qld 4108, Australia.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baduel
authors.affiliation: Entox, The University of Queensland, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, Qld 4108, Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gallen
authors.affiliation: Entox, The University of Queensland, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, Qld 4108, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Banks
authors.affiliation: Australian Government Department of the Environment, John Gorton Building, Parkes, ACT 2600, Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Broomhall
authors.affiliation: Entox, The University of Queensland, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, Qld 4108, Australia.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Mueller
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis*; D064091:Waste Disposal Facilities; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005411:Flame Retardants; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Biosolids; Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD); Leachate; Perfluroalkyl substances (PFASs); Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)