Deposition of Organochlorine Pesticides,PCBs (Aroclor 1268), and PBDEs in Selected Plant Species from a Superfund Site at Brunswick,Georgia, USA

Deposition of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were measured in Loblolly pine needles (Pinus taeda) collected in and around a Linden Chemicals and Plastics (LCP) Superfund Site at Brunswick, Georgia, USA. For the comparison, foliage of eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) was also collected to monitor contaminant levels. This study revealed that concentrations of OCPs, PCBs and PBDEs ranged from 0.75–10, 3.4–15 to 0.05–3, ng/g wet wt, respectively in both plant species. Total OCPs concentrations in pine needles decreased from 10 to 2.3 ng/g; and total PCBs decreased from 28 to 9.3 ng/g between 1997 and 2006. To our knowledge, this is the first report on PBDEs concentrations in pine needles and red cedar foliage samples from the Superfund Site at Brunswick, Georgia, USA.     

Gridded Field Observations of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Soils of North China

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were measured in 87 soil samples collected from North China. Eleven PBDE congeners (BDE28, 47, 49, 66, 99, 100, 119, 183, 196, 203, and 209) were identified with a high frequency of detection (84–100 %) in soil samples, and their frequencies were used for statistical analysis in the present study. PBDE concentrations ranged from 0.08 to 8260 ng/g with a mean of 202 ng/g, thus indicating severe pollution at these sample sites. BDE209 was the predominant congener with concentrations of 0.08–8140 ng/g (mean 188). Analysis of the spatial distribution of PBDEs in North China soils indicated that relatively high concentrations of both lower- and higher-brominated BDEs were present in Shandong Province, and a decreasing trend in PBDE concentrations from the east toward the west of North China was observed. Source identification analysis suggested that Jinghai County in Tianjin and the coastal area of Laizhou Bay, Shandong province, were the major sources in North China. The sources in Jinghai County were connected with the dismantling of electronic waste, whereas the sources in the coastal area of Laizhou Bay were connected with the production of PBDEs. Modeling results showed that the distance between the sampling sites and these point sources had a large influence on the transfer of PBDEs.     

High polybrominated diphenyl ether levels in California house cats: house dust a primary source?

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are brominated flame retardants that act as endocrine disruptors, affecting thyroid hormone homeostasis. As a follow-up to a recent study showing high PBDE levels in household cats and linking PBDE levels with cat hyperthyroidism, we measured PBDEs, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorinated pesticides (OCPs) in serum samples from 26 California household cats (16 hyperthyroid, 10 controls) using liquid-liquid extraction and high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry. In the present pilot study, we found that PBDE levels in California house cats were extremely high (ΣPBDEs median = 2,904 ng/g lipid; range, 631-22,537 ng/g lipid). This is approximately 50 times higher than levels in California residents (ΣPBDEs geomean = 62 ± 8.9 ng/g lipid, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey), who have among the highest human levels in the world. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers congener patterns (BDE-99 major congener, BDE-209 significant) differed markedly from patterns found in California residents (BDE-47 major) or wildlife but resembled patterns found in house dust. Polychlorinated biphenyls and OCPs in cats were highly correlated, consistent with a shared dietary source or pathway of exposure, but did not correlate with PBDEs. This suggests a different source or pathway of exposure for PBDEs, which was most likely house dust. The authors found no evidence that linked levels of PBDEs, PCBs, or OCPs with hyperthyroidism. This may be because of the small sample size, competing or confounding risk factors, or complicated causal mechanisms.     

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers Contamination in Marine Organisms of Yantai Coast, Northern Yellow Sea of China

To evaluate the contamination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in marine organisms of the northern Yellow Sea of China, mollusks, wild shrimps and crabs were collected from the Yantai coast and ten PBDE congeners levels in the samples were analyzed and compared. The results indicate all the samples have been contaminated by PBDEs and PBDEs concentrations varied in individual species and in sampling sites. The concentration range of ∑PBDEs in the samples was 0.23–10.56 ng/g d.w. below the national edible criteria 40 ng/g d.w.. Congener compositions were mainly dominated by BDE 209.     

Levels and Distribution of Organochlorine Pesticides and Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Water and Sediment from the International Anzali Wetland, North of Iran

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and PCBs were determined in water and sediment from the Anzali Wetland, north of Iran. The total concentrations of OCPs were 71.75–315.16 ng/l, 1.8–12.68 ng/g dry wt in water and sediments respectively, and those of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the two phases were: nd–141.09 ng/l and 0.39–2.64 ng/g dw, respectively. Also, the results indicated that β-HCH, DDE were the most common organochlorine pesticides contaminants. In this study, the ∑PCB/∑DDT reflect the relative importance of agricultural than industrial sources in this area. a significant difference was observed between the stations. Station number 3 showed the highest range of the pollutants studied.     

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polychlorinated biphenyls in freshwater fish from Taihu Lake, China: their levels and the factors that influence biomagnification

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), two types of persistent organic pollutants that have been used widely, can be released into the environment and accumulate in organisms. To obtain a better understanding of the biomagnification of PBDEs and PCBs in fish, as well as the influences on biomagnification by fish size and physical properties of PBDEs and PCBs, a total of 200 samples of 24 fish species were collected and analyzed from Taihu Lake, the second largest freshwater lake in China. The concentrations of PBDEs and PCBs ranged from 8.59 to 74.28?ng/g lipid weight (lw) and from 10.30 to 165.20?ng/g lw, respectively. Trophic magnification factors (TMFs) were used to estimate the PBDE and PCB biomagnification potentials. The TMF values of PBDEs and PCBs ranged from 0.78 to 2.95 and from 0.92 to 2.60, respectively. Most of the TMFs were greater than 1, indicating that these contaminants were biomagnified in food chains. Fish size might influence the biomagnification evaluation, because different sized fish had different lipid content, leading to different lipid-based concentrations of PBDEs and PCBs. Parabolic relationships were observed between the TMFs and logK(OW) , as well as between the TMFs and the molecular volumes of PBDE and PCB congeners. The congeners with logK(OW) values of approximately 7 or molecular volumes of approximately 8?×?10?? nm3 had the greatest biomagnification potentials. Compared to molecular weight, molecular volume seems to be the better standard for analyzing the influence of molecular size on biomagnification.     

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Human Hair from the College Environment: Comparison with Indoor Dust

Eight Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners (BDE 28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154, 183 and 209) were determined to examine the hair burden at low concentrations, and the relationship between PBDE concentrations in human hair and indoor dust from a college environment (Shanghai University campus). Chemical analyses showed that the total concentrations of PBDEs in hair ranged from 4.04 to 99 ng/g dw, and were found to be fourfold higher in females than in males (p < 0.05). The total PBDEs concentrations in indoor dust samples ranged from 170 to 1,360 ng/g dw. Significantly positive correlations were observed between human hair and indoor dust for BDE 47 (r = 0.44, p = 0.048) and BDE 99 (r = 0.68, p = 0.025). However, no significant association was noted between other PBDE congeners in human hair and indoor dust in the present study.     

Occurrence,Distribution and Sources of Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs) in Surface Sediments from the Lijiang River,a Typical Karst River of Southwestern China

The Lijiang River is a typical karst river of southwestern China. Karst-aquifer systems are more vulnerable to contamination compared to other types of aquifers. The occurrence and distribution of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in surface sediments from the Lijiang River were investigated to evaluate their potential ecological risks. The total concentrations of them in sediments ranged from 0.80 to 18.73 ng/g dry weight (dw) (mean 6.83 ng/g dw). The residue levels of OCPs varied in the order of HCB > HCHs > DDTs. Compositional analyses of OCPs showed that HCHs and DDTs were mainly from historical usage. The ecological risk assessment suggested that HCHs and DDTs in Lijiang River sediments may cause adverse ecological risks, particularly at sites near agricultural areas.     

Concentration, Sources and Human Exposure of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Indoor Dust in Heilongjiang Province, China

Fourteen indoor dust samples were collected in 2010 winter from four cities in Heilongjiang Province, China. Fourteen polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were identified and quantified. Concentration of the total 14 PBDEs ranged from 240 to 9,270 ng/g, with the median of 2,520 ng/g. BDE209 was the dominant congener with concentrations ranged from 234 to 9,190 ng/g, accounting for 97.2 % of the total concentration. Positive correlations (r > 0.8, p < 0.005) were found between the group of BDE17, 28, 66, 47 and the group of BDE85, 99, 100, between BDE153 and BDE154, between BDE209 and BDE183, indicating the similar sources and/or pathways in indoor environment. Principal component analysis showed that the major sources of PBDEs were commercial Penta-BDEs and Deca-BDEs. Human exposure analysis showed that children of 1–5 years old had the highest exposure to PBDEs.     

Contamination by polybrominated diphenyl ethers and persistent organochlorines in catfish and feed from Mekong River Delta, Vietnam

Commercial feeds for aquaculture and catfish samples were collected from the Mekong River Delta, Vietnam, for determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and selected persistent organochlorines, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), DDT and its metabolites (DDTs), chlordane-related compounds (CHLs), hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCHs), and hexachlorobenzene (HCB). The most abundant contaminants were DDTs, with concentrations ranging from 10 to 700 ng/g lipid weight, followed by PCBs (1.0-80 ng/g), CHLs (<0.01-8.2 ng/g), PBDEs (0.12-3.7 ng/g), HCHs (<0.03-5.1 ng/g), and HCB (<0.07-3.2 ng/g). Polybrominated diphenyl ethers were detected in all samples, suggesting their widespread contamination in the region. However, PBDE contamination levels in the present catfish specimens were low in comparison to levels worldwide. Interestingly, residue levels of all the contaminants were significantly higher in catfish collected near a municipal dumping site compared to farmed catfish. This suggests that runoffs from the dumping site during floods and rains may have brought pollutants to the surrounding areas. Contamination pattern in aquaculture feeds revealed elevated levels of PCBs and PBDEs in samples from foreign companies, perhaps implying their higher residues in some imported ingredients. Congener profiles of PBDEs and PCBs demonstrated similarity between the farmed catfish and the aquaculture feeds, suggesting these feeds as a major source of pollution to the farmed catfish. On the other hand, the PBDE and PCB profiles in the dumpsite catfish are clearly different from those of the farmed catfish, revealing their exposure to different sources. Risk assessment showed significantly higher intake of the contaminants by people who eat catfish cultured near the dumping areas. Further investigation regarding fate and occurrence of the contaminants in dumping sites is necessary.     

Distribution of organobrominated and organochlorinated contaminants in Belgian human adipose tissue

We have measured the levels of flame retardants, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), in 20 recent human adipose tissues from Belgium and compared them to other organohalogen compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorobenzene, 2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane (p,p'-DDT), and its metabolite, 2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE). After Soxhlet extraction and cleanup on acidified silica solid-phase extraction cartridges, analysis was achieved by capillary gas chromatography/electron impact mass spectrometry. The method allowed the determination of 5 PBDE and 35 PCB congeners. Concentrations of PBDEs (sum of congeners IUPAC Nos. 28, 47, 99, 100, and 153) ranged between 2.2 and 11.7 ng/g lipid weight and were on the lower end of reported PBDE concentrations in European countries. The median value for the sum of PCBs (35 congeners) was 841 ng/g lipid weight and ranged from 286 to 1802 ng/g lipid weight. The median value for the sum of DDTs (calculated from p,p'-DDE and p,p'-DDT) was 290 ng/g lipid weight and ranged from 47 to 2802 ng/g lipid weight. The sum of PCBs showed a good correlation with the sum of DDTs (r=0.77, P<0.05), while the correlation with the sum of PBDEs was weaker (r=0.56, P<0.05). No age dependency was found for PBDEs (r=0.09), while PCBs and DDTs showed higher correlation coefficients with age (r=0.59 and 0.40, respectively, P<0.05).     

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) levels in blood samples from children living in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara,Jalisco, Mexico

The aim of this study was to perform a polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) exposure assessment using blood samples collected from children living in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico (GDL). Five congeners of PBDEs were analyzed using a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry technique. The blood concentrations of total PBDEs ranged from 5.50 to 169 ng/g lipid (42.0 ± 18.0 ng/g lipid; mean ± standard deviation). Regarding BDE congeners, the main congener (highest blood levels) was BDE99 (14.5 ± 5.50 ng/g lipid), followed by BDE100 (9.80 ± 3.40 ng/g lipid) and BDE154 (9.80 ± 5.90 ng/g lipid), and finally BDE153 (5.80 ± 2.30 ng/g lipid) and BDE47 (2.20 ± 1.20 ng/g lipid). In conclusion, blood PBDEs concentrations of concern were detected in this study, as blood levels were similar to the ones found in North America (the highest worldwide).     

PBDEs and Dechloranes in Raccoons in the Midwestern United States

Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are one of the most widespread and abundant mammals in North America. To evaluate the suitability of using raccoons as bioindicator species, we analyzed liver tissues (n?=?32) collected from 2013 to 2015 for the presence of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and Dechloranes. ∑PBDE concentrations ranged from 19.1 to 2125 ng/g lw (median?=?98.0 ng/g lw) and did not differ between gender or age of raccoon. Dechloranes were detected in 38% of raccoons and ranged from 0.15 to 50.4 ng/g lw (median?=?2.32 ng/g lw). The comparatively high PBDE concentrations, and presence of Dechloranes in the raccoons in our study suggest that biota in terrestrial habitats are still widely exposed to and susceptible to the bioaccumulation of current and emerging flame retardants.     

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs), Polychlorinated Biphenyles (PCBs), Hydroxylated and Methoxylated-PBDEs, and Methylsulfonyl-PCBs in Bird Serum from South China

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and their derivatives, hydroxylated (OH) and methoxylated (MeO) PBDEs and methylsulfonylated (MeSO₂) PCBs, were measured in sera of eight bird species collected from an e-waste recycling region in South China. Concentrations of ∑PCBs, ranging from 38 to 1700 ng/g lipid weight (lw), were one to two orders of magnitude higher than concentrations of ∑PBDEs (0.64–580 ng/g lw). The significantly positive relationship between PCB and PBDE concentrations suggested a similar pathway of exposure to these compounds. Compared with muscle in birds, serum might prefer to accumulate and/or retain less brominated/chlorinated congeners. 3-OH-BDE47 and 2′-OH-BDE68 were detected in more than 80% of the collected bird serum samples (range: not detectable (nd) to 13 and nd to 7.8 ng/g lw, respectively). The other three OH-PBDE congeners (4′-OH-BDE-17, 6-OH-BDE47, and 4′-OH-BDE-49) and two MeO-PBDE congeners (3-MeO-BDE47 and 6-MeO-BDE47) were occasionally detected in bird sera at concentrations ranging from nd to 2.5 ng/g lw. Both natural sources and metabolic transformation of PBDEs could contribute to the presence of these PBDE derivatives in the birds. The two MeSO₂-PCB congeners (4-MeSO₂-CB49 and 4-MeSO₂-CB101) under investigation were detected at respective concentration ranges of nd to 12 and nd to 0.68 ng/g lw. 4-MeSO₂-CB101 exhibited the highest concentration among the nine PCB and PBDE derivatives studied, indicating that biotransformation via the mercapturic acid pathway of PCBs might have occurred in the studied bird species.     

Swallows as Indicators of Environmental Pollution of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo Basin: Are Persistent Organic Pollutants a Concern?

Swallows from two locations in the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo Basin and one reference site located 500 km away were analyzed for organochlorine pesticides (OCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Of the OC pesticides, only p,p′-DDE was observed at levels of concern (carcass geometric mean range 642 to 8511 ng/g wet weight [ww]). DDE residues in carcass were significantly greater at El Paso than at other locations. PCBs were relatively low compared with locations in the northeastern United States and the Great Lakes. Geometric mean PBDE concentrations ranged from 18 to 258 ng/g ww (280 to 3395 ng/g lipid weight). PBDE congeners 47 and 99 comprised approximately 60% of total PBDEs. Concentrations of DDE measured in swallows from El Paso in 2000 and 2005 are among the highest observed in the last 20 years along the United States–Mexico border. The results from this study indicated that swallows are still being exposed to high concentrations of DDE, which could have adverse effects on reproduction or on predators that feed on swallows.     

Species-Specific Bioaccumulation of Halogenated Organic Pollutants and Their Metabolites in Fish Serum from an E-Waste Site,South China

Halogenated organic pollutants (HOPs)—including organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs), polybromobiphenyls (PBBs), dechlorane plus (DP), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), and hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) as well as PCB metabolites (methylsulfone [MeSO₂-]) and hydroxylated (OH-) PCBs and OH-PBDEs—were determined in the serum of mud carp and northern snakehead from an electronic-waste (e-waste) site in South China. The average concentrations (mean ± SD) of ΣPCBs, ΣPBDEs, ΣOCPs, ΣPBBs, ΣTBBPA, ΣHBCDs, and ΣDP were 1410 ± 324, 70 ± 20, 3.0 ± 0.4, 2.8 ± 0.8, 1.6 ± 0.4, 1.0 ± 0.2, and 0.3 ± 0.03 ng/g wet weight (ww) in mud carp and 6430 ± 781, 468 ± 49, 22.4 ± 1.1, 7.0 ± 0.6, 2.9 ± 2.3, 5.5 ± 1.1, and 4.6 ± 0.6 ng/g ww in northern snakehead, respectively. MeSO₂-PCBs, OH-PCBs, and OH-PBDEs were detected at a total concentration of 0.44 ± 0.03 and 9.7 ± 0.3 ng/g ww in mud carp and northern snakehead, respectively. The congener profiles of PCBs, PBDEs, OH/MeSO₂-PCBs, and OH-PBDEs were found to be significantly different between the two fish species, possibly as a result of species-specific bioaccumulation and/or metabolism of the HOPs. Chirality of ten PCB congeners and α-HBCD, as well as the f _anti values of DP in the serum samples, supported the species-specific biotransformation of HOPs. Furthermore, the presence of covaried and counter-varied enantiomeric fractions of PCBs between the two fish species indicated species- and congener-specific enantiomer enrichment of PCBs.     

人体胎盘组织二噁英和多溴联苯醚化合物负荷水平初步研究

目的 建立人体胎盘组织样品氯化二苯并二噁英(PCDD)和呋喃(PCDFs)、多氯联苯(PCBs)、多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)化合物同时准确定量检测分析方法,揭示上述持久性有机污染物人体负荷水平,并初步进行危险性评估.方法 采用国际权威标准方法--核素(同位素)稀释的高分辨气相色谱/高分辨双聚焦磁式质谱联用(HRGC/HRMS)技术,以多离子检测方法对人体胎盘组织样品中17个PCDD/Fs和12个共平面PCBs以及7个PBDEs化合物分别进行定性和定量分析,用WHO-TEF值计算所有样品的毒性当量浓度∑TEQ(PCDD+PCDFs+PCBs)和PBDEs浓度,进一步对人体二嗯英和PBDEs化合物负荷水平进行危险性评估.结果 6个胎盘组织样品中PCDD/Fs和PCBs化合物毒性当量总浓度∑TEQ(PCDD+PCDFs+PCBs)中位数是18.15 WHO-TEQ pg/g脂肪.范围分布在5.14～67.01 WHO-TEQ pg/g脂肪之间.2,3,4,7,8-PeCDFs、1,2,3,7,8-PeCDDs、PCB126是毒性当量的主要贡献者,合计占65%.以7个化合物计算PBDEs总浓度,6个样品的中位数值为2.73 ng/g脂肪,均数为7.17 ng/g脂肪,范围是0.95～25.99 ng/g脂肪.BDE47是最主要的污染同系物,占到35%.浓度最高的一个受试样品其毒性当量总浓度∑TEQ(PCDD+PCDFs+PCBs)已经达到世界上已知高暴露区人体二噁英污染负荷水平.结论 我们在本研究中建立了人体组织样品中持久性有机化合物二噁英和PBDEs化合物同时准确定量检测方法,高二噁英负荷水平的样品提供者可能对胎儿存在健康危害的高暴露风险,对于健康的远期影响还需要深入进行医学追踪研究.     

Organochlorine Pesticides, Polychlorinated Biphenyls, and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Irrawaddy Dolphins from India

The Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) is at risk of extinction throughout its range as a result of incidental catches, habitat degradation, and pollution. Populations of Irrawaddy dolphins are constrained by the species’ narrow habitat requirement—lagoons, estuaries, rivers, and lakes—and are therefore particularly vulnerable to the effects of human activities. In this study, for the first time, concentrations of organochlorine (OC) pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were determined in tissues of Irrawaddy dolphins collected from Chilika Lake, India, to understand the status of contamination. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs) were the predominant contaminants found in Irrawaddy dolphins; the highest concentration found was 10,000 ng/g lipid weight in blubber. Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) were the second most prevalent contaminants in dolphin tissues. Concentrations of PCBs, chlordanes, hexachlorobenzene, tris(4-chlorophenyl)methane, and tris(4-chlorophenyl)methanol were in the ranges of few ng/g to few hundreds of ng/g on a lipid-weight basis. In general, concentrations of OC pesticides and PCBs in Irrawaddy dolphins were lower than the concentrations reported for coastal and riverine dolphins collected in Asia. PBDEs were detected in the blubber of Irrawaddy dolphins at concentrations ranging from 0.98 to 18 ng/g lipid weight. BDE congener 47 accounted for 60% to 75% of the total PBDE concentrations. Although these results establish the baseline levels of persistent organic pollutants in Irrawaddy dolphins, efforts should be made to decrease the sources of contamination by DDTs and HCHs in Chilika Lake.     

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers,Polychlorinated Biphenyls,and Organochlorine Pesticides in Adipose Tissues of Korean Women

Studies on residue levels and accumulation profiles of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in human adipose tissues of Korean populations are scarce. In this study, concentrations and accumulation features of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were measured in adipose tissues of Korean women age 40–68 years. The highest concentrations were found for PCBs and DDTs, which were 1–2 orders of magnitude greater than the concentrations of hexachlorocyclohexanes, chlordanes, and PBDEs. The concentrations of PCBs and OCPs were lower than those reported for other countries. However, PBDE concentrations were greater than those reported for other countries, suggesting that ongoing exposure to PBDEs is a concern in Korea. The profiles of PBDEs were characterized by the predominance of BDE 209, followed by nona- and octa-BDEs, which are consistent with the consumption patterns of products containing PBDEs in Korea. The concentrations of PCBs and some OCPs were significantly correlated with each other, whereas PBDEs showed low or moderate correlations with other POPs, suggesting differences in exposure routes and biotransformation potentials of the compounds studied. The concentrations of organochlorines and PBDEs were not correlated with subjects’ age and body mass index. The results of this study provide baseline information on POPs in adipose tissues of the general population in Korea.     

Distribution and sources of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in the Southern California Bight

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were measured in surface sediments from 121 locations within the Southern California Bight. Site selection was based on a probabilistic approach to determine the spatial extent and magnitude of PBDE concentrations with known confidence intervals. Coastal embayments (including estuaries, marinas, ports, and bays) and the continental shelf out to the lower slope were sampled. Thirteen PBDEs were detected at 92 of the sites, with a geometric mean and maximum of 4.7 and 560?ng/g dry weight (sum of 13 congeners), respectively. The PBDE concentrations were higher in coastal embayments than in offshore locations. Embayments had an area-weighted geometric mean total PBDE concentration of 12 (95% confidence interval, 8.0-17) ng/g dry weight and a total PBDE mass of 110 (77-160) kg. The offshore stratum, which is 99% of the total area, had an area-weighted geometric mean total PBDE concentration of 2.0 (1.6-2.5) ng/g dry weight and a total PBDE mass of 860 (700-1,100) kg. The five highest PBDE concentrations were associated with the mouths of urban rivers, indicating that urban runoff is likely a major input of PBDEs to these coastal marine waters. The outfalls of wastewater treatment plants were not observed to be major sources. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012; 31: 2239-2245. ? 2012 SETAC.