title: Occurrence and Distribution Pattern of Alkylphenol Ethoxylates and Brominated Flame Retardants in Sediment Samples from Vaal River, South Africa.
abstract: High environmental concentrations for alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) have been observed near cities than in rural environment. This is due, in part, to sewage systems receiving effluents from many industrial processes along with domestic wastewater. While these classes of compounds are being phased out in most developed countries, there is still widespread use in low to middle income countries. To better understand the extent of APEs and BFRs contamination in the environment, this study reports on the concentration and distribution of APEs and BFRs in sediments samples collected from Vaal River, South Africa. Measurable concentrations of these contaminants were obtained using GC-MS after heptafluorobutyric derivatization. The concentrations range (ng g(-1)) for these pollutants were as follows: nd-46, 20-127, 24-38, 3-5, 14-28, 16-54 for octylphenol penta ethoxylates, nonylphenol ethoxylates (mono- di), nonylphenol penta ethoxylates, PBB101, PBDEs, and HBCD; respectively. The distribution observed in this study indicated higher levels of sediment contamination by APEs relative to BFRs. These results underline the need to further investigate the burden and risks associated with chemical contamination in developing countries.
authors.affiliation: Scientific Services, Rand Water, 2 Barrage Road, Vereeniging, 1930, South Africa. tchokwe@randwater.co.za.
authors.forename: T B
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6896-4138
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Chokwe
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, 175 Mandela Drive, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa.
authors.forename: O J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Okonkwo
authors.affiliation: Academic Development and Research, Da Vinci Institute, 16 Park Avenue, Modderfontein, 1608, South Africa.
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Sibali
authors.affiliation: Scientific Services, Rand Water, 2 Barrage Road, Vereeniging, 1930, South Africa.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Mporetji
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012722:Sewage; D013019:South Africa; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D010636:Phenols; D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C474055:octylphenol
keywords: Alkylphenol ethoxylates; Brominated flame retardants; Distribution patterns; Sediment samples; Vaal River