A review of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and alternative brominated flame retardants in wildlife from China:Levels,trends,and bioaccumulation characteristics

Accelerated industrialization and urbanization, and unregulated disposal of waste of electric and electronic equipment (e-waste) in China have caused environmental pollution of brominated flame retardants (BFRs). This review summarized the levels, trends, and bioaccumulation characteristics of polyb...

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Published in:Journal of environmental sciences (China) Vol. 24; no. 2; pp. 183 - 194
Main Authors: Wu, Jiangping, Zhang, Ying, Luo, Xiaojun, She, Yazhe, Yu, Lehuan, Chen, Shejun, Mai, Bixian
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-02-2012
Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China%State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
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Summary:Accelerated industrialization and urbanization, and unregulated disposal of waste of electric and electronic equipment (e-waste) in China have caused environmental pollution of brominated flame retardants (BFRs). This review summarized the levels, trends, and bioaccumulation characteristics of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and other potential alternative BFRs including hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs), 1,2-bis(2,4,6-dibromophenoxy) ethane (BTBPE) and decabromodiphenylethane (DBDPE) in wildlife from China. PBDE levels in wildlife from China were generally higher than those from other parts in Asia, and were comparable to those from Europe but were lower than those from North America. However, wildlife from the e-waste recycling sites in South China and East China contained much higher PBDEs compared to other reports around the world, suggesting the heavy contamination of PBDEs in these regions. The alternative BFRs were also detected in wildlife, revealing that the animals are exposed to these chemicals, in addition to PBDEs. Temporal trends indicated by levels in marine mammals from South China suggested that PBDE levels increased from the beginning of 1990s to 2000s, but decreased from the middle of 2000s, followed by relatively steady levels. In contrast, HBCDs were found to be continuously increasing from 1997 to 2007, indicating the increasing usage of HBCDs in China in recent years. Compared to PBDE profiles found in other parts, aquatic species and birds from China contained relatively higher contributions of BDE-28 and 209, respectively, suggesting the possible different usage pattern of PBDEs. Future works including keeping monitoring at a reasonable scale and frequency to make sure levels near urban centers indicative of population do not increase are needed. Additionally, focus effort on e-waste recycling regions to look for impacts and to determine if regulation/controls are resulting in lower environmental contamination, and incorporation of sentinel species in monitoring efforts are recommended.
Bibliography:Accelerated industrialization and urbanization,and unregulated disposal of waste of electric and electronic equipment(e-waste) in China have caused environmental pollution of brominated flame retardants(BFRs).This review summarized the levels,trends,and bioaccumulation characteristics of polybrominated diphenyl ethers(PBDEs) and other potential alternative BFRs including hexabromocyclododecanes(HBCDs),1,2-bis(2,4,6-dibromophenoxy) ethane(BTBPE) and decabromodiphenylethane(DBDPE) in wildlife from China.PBDE levels in wildlife from China were generally higher than those from other parts in Asia,and were comparable to those from Europe but were lower than those from North America.However,wildlife from the e-waste recycling sites in South China and East China contained much higher PBDEs compared to other reports around the world,suggesting the heavy contamination of PBDEs in these regions.The alternative BFRs were also detected in wildlife,revealing that the animals are exposed to these chemicals,in addition to PBDEs.Temporal trends indicated by levels in marine mammals from South China suggested that PBDE levels increased from the beginning of 1990s to 2000s,but decreased from the middle of 2000s,followed by relatively steady levels.In contrast,HBCDs were found to be continuously increasing from 1997 to 2007,indicating the increasing usage of HBCDs in China in recent years.Compared to PBDE profiles found in other parts,aquatic species and birds from China contained relatively higher contributions of BDE28 and 209,respectively,suggesting the possible different usage pattern of PBDEs.Future works including keeping monitoring at a reasonable scale and frequency to make sure levels near urban centers indicative of population do not increase are needed.Additionally,focus effort on e-waste recycling regions to look for impacts and to determine if regulation/controls are resulting in lower environmental contamination,and incorporation of sentinel species in monitoring efforts are recommended.
Jiangping Wu1,Ying Zhang1,2,Xiaojun Luo1,Yazhe She1,2,Lehuan Yu1,2,Shejun Chen1,Bixian Mai1 1.State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry,Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Guangzhou 510640,China. 2.Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100049,China
brominated flame retardants; polybrominated diphenyl ethers; wildlife; electronic waste; China
11-2629/X
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1001-0742(11)60758-4
ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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content type line 23
ObjectType-Review-1
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ISSN:1001-0742
1878-7320
DOI:10.1016/S1001-0742(11)60758-4