Transformation of PBDE mixtures during sediment transport and resuspension in marine environments (Gulf of Lion, NW Mediterranean Sea)

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 168; pp. 87 - 95
• Main Authors: Salvadó, Joan A., Grimalt, Joan O., López, Jordi F., Durrieu de Madron, Xavier, Heussner, Serge, Canals, Miquel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-09-2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Bromination; Canyons; Decabromodiphenyl ether; Dumping; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environmental Monitoring; Ethers; Exact sciences and technology; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; Gulfs; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers - analysis; Marine; Marine environments; Marine sediments; Mediterranean Sea; Models, Chemical; Natural water pollution; pollutants; Pollution; Pollution sources. Measurement results; Pollution, environment geology; Polybromodiphenyl ethers; Postdepositional pollutant transport; Seawater - chemistry; Seawaters, estuaries; sediment transport; sediments; Slopes; Soil and sediments pollution; Transformation of polybromodiphenyl ethers; Transformations; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - chemistry; Water treatment and pollution; Mediterranean Sea; Gulf of Lion; West Mediterranean; MED, France, Lion Gulf; MED, Western Mediterranean; France, Provence-Cote d'Azur, Rhone; Decabromodiphenyl ether; Postdepositional pollutant transport; Transformation of polybromodiphenyl ethers; Marine sediments; Polybromodiphenyl ethers; Ether; Pollutant behavior; Continental shelf; Flame retardant; Bathymetry; Organic bromine compounds; Hydrodynamic dispersion; Submarine canyon; Low volatile compound; Persistent organic pollutant; Transport process; Polybrominated diphenyl ethers; Particle resuspension; Spatial distribution; Sea current; Water pollution; Organic compounds; Concentration distribution; Seawater
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2012.04.019

Polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in superficial sediments from the Gulf of Lion were studied. They were largely predominated by BDE 209 (98.7% of all PBDEs) indicating that the main source of these pollutants was the commercial mixture deca-BDE. This compound and the less brominated BDE exhibited a southwestward decreasing concentration gradient following the dominant marine currents and bottom relief, e.g. the Mud Belt, the submarine canyons and the Open Continental Slope. All PBDEs exhibited statistically significant correlations confirming the common origin. However, a progressive transformation of the dumped BDE 209 was identified showing a depletion paralleled by increases of the less brominated BDEs (from 8.6% to 22%). These less brominated compounds were accumulated at about 100–140km away from the Rhone prodelta, e.g. at the end of the submarine canyons, evidencing that these transformation compounds can be accumulated at long distances from the dumping sites in the marine system.
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► Polybromodiphenyl ethers are associated to organic carbon in marine sediments. ► PBDEs in marine sediments can accumulate further away than 140km from the spill site. ► BDE-209 in marine sediments generate congeners found in banned commercial mixtures. ► BDE-209 in marine sediments generates new congeners not found in commercial mixtures. ► Submarine canyons channel PBDEs from the continental platform to the deep shelf.
Decomposition of decabromodiphenyl ether in marine sediments generates congeners found in banned mixtures in areas located far away from the discharge sites.