Observable carbon isotope fractionation in the photodegradation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers by simulated sunlight

Disclosing phototransformation mechanisms of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) in different media by simulated sunlight: Implication by compound-specific stable isotope analysis

As one of the typical brominated flame retardants, decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) has been widely detected in environment. However, scarce information was available on BDE-209 phototransformation mechanisms in various media. In this study, compound-specific stable isotope analysis was first applied to investigate BDE-209 phototransformation in n-hexane, MeOH:H2O (v:v, 8:2), and simulated seawater by simulated sunlight. BDE-209 transformation followed pseudo-first-order kinetic, with degradation rate in the following of n-hexane (2.66 × 10-3 min-1) > simulated seawater (1.83 × 10-3 min-1) > MeOH:H2O (1.41 × 10-3 min-1). Pronounced carbon isotope fractionation was first observed for BDE-209 phototransformation, with carbon isotope enrichment factors (εC) of -1.01 ± 0.14‰, -1.77 ± 0.26‰, -2.94 ± 0.38‰ in n-hexane, MeOH:H2O and simulated seawater, respectively. Combination analysis of products and stable carbon isotope, debromination with cleavage of C-Br bonds as rate-limiting step was the main mechanism for BDE-209 phototransformation in n-hexane, debromination and hydroxylation with cleavage of C-Br bonds as rate-limiting steps in MeOH:H2O, and debromination, hydroxylation and chlorination in simulated seawater. This present study confirmed that stable carbon isotope analysis was a robust method to discovery the underlying phototransformation mechanisms of BDE-209 in various solutions.

Novel Insights into Uptake, Translocation, and Transformation Mechanisms of 2,2',4,4'-Tetra Brominated Diphenyl Ether (BDE-47) in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): Implication by Compound-Specific Stable Isotope and Transcriptome Analysis

The uptake, translocation, and transformation of 2,2',4,4'-tetra brominated diphenyl ether (BDE-47) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were comprehensively investigated by hydroponic experiments using compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) and transcriptome analysis. The results indicated that BDE-47 was quickly adsorbed on epidermis of wheat roots and then absorbed in roots via water and anion channels as well as an active process dependent on energy. A small fraction of BDE-47 in roots was subjected to translocation acropetally, and an increase of δ13C values in shoots than roots implied that BDE-47 in roots had to cross at least one lipid bilayer to enter the vascular bundle via transporters. In addition, accompanied by the decreasing concentrations, δ13C values of BDE-47 showed the increasing trend with time in shoots, indicating occurrence of BDE-47 transformation. OH-PBDEs were detected as transformation products, and the hydroxyl group preferentially substituted at the ortho-positions of BDE-47. Based on transcriptome analysis, genes encoding polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE)-metabolizing enzymes, including cytochrome P450 enzymes, nitrate reductases, and glutathione S-transferases, were significantly upregulated after exposure to BDE-47 in shoots, further evidencing BDE-47 transformation. This study first reported the stable carbon isotope fractionation of PBDEs during translocation and transformation in plants, and application of CSIA and transcriptome analysis allowed systematically characterize the environmental behaviors of pollutants in plants.

Photodegradation of phthalic acid esters under simulated sunlight: Mechanism, kinetics, and toxicity change

The photodegradation of two phthalic acid esters (PAEs), dimethyl phthalate (DMP) and di-n-octyl phthalate (DOP), under simulated sunlight in aqueous or organic phases (n-hexane (HEX) and dichloromethane (DCM)) was investigated. The mean photodegradation rates were ranked by half-lives as follows: DOP in DCM (3.77 h) < DMP in DCM (9.62 h) < DOP in H₂O (3.99 days) < DMP in H₂O (19.2 days) < DOP in HEX (21.0 days) < DMP in HEX (>30 days). Compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) combined with intermediate analysis was employed to explore the involved initial photoreaction mechanism. C-O bond cleavage, chlorine radical adduction to the aromatic ring, competing reactions of chlorine radical adduction to the aromatic ring and side chain, and a singlet oxygen-mediated pathway were mainly responsible for initial photodegradation mechanism of PAEs in H₂O, DMP in DCM, DOP in DCM, and DOP in HEX, respectively. Furthermore, distinct isotope fractionation patterns of PAEs photodegradation open the possibility of using CSIA to differentiate the involved solvents in the field. More toxic and recalcitrant intermediates emerged during the photodegradation of DMP in DCM, while the risk to human health was reduced during the photochemical transformation of DOP in organic solvents.

Insight into phototransformation mechanism and toxicity evolution of novel and legacy brominated flame retardants in water: A comparative analysis

The novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) have become widespread as a consequence of the prohibition on the use of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). However, the transformation mechanism and potential environmental risk are largely unclear. In this study, we have explored the phototransformation behavior of the most abundant NBFRs, 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane (BTBPE) in water under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Meanwhile, the legacy 2,2',4,4',6,6'-hexabromodiphenyl ether (BDE155) with similar structure was investigated contrastively. Results show that novel BTBPE is more persistent than legacy BDE155, with nearly four times slower photodegradation rate constants (0.0120 min^-1and 0.0447 min^-1, respectively). 18 products are identified in the phototransformation of BTBPE. Different from the only debrominated products formed in legacy BDE155 transformation, the ether bond cleavage photoproducts (e.g. bromophenols) are also identified in novel BTBPE transformation. Compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) confirms the phototransformation mechanism is mainly via debromination accompanying with the breaking of ether bond. Computational toxicity assessment implies that transformation products of BTBPE still have the high kidney risks. Especially the bromophenols formed via the ether bond cleavage could significantly increase the health effects on skin irritation. This study emphasizes the importance of understanding the photolytic behavior and potential risks of novel NBFRs and other structurally similar analogues.

Application of dual carbon-bromine stable isotope analysis to characterize anaerobic micro-degradation mechanisms of PBDEs in wetland bottom-water

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), one kind of persistent organic pollutants, were widely detected in coastal wetlands. Microbial reductive debromination is one of the most important attenuation processes for PBDEs in anaerobic environment, whereas the underlying reaction mechanisms remain elusive. Dual-element stable isotope analysis was recently recognized to distinguish different reaction mechanism for degradation of organic pollutants. In this study, the dual carbon-bromine isotope effects associated with the anaerobic microbial degradation were first investigated to characterize the reaction mechanisms for BDE-47 and BDE-153. Presence of lower brominated congeners indicated stepwise debromination as the main degradation pathway, with the preferential removal of bromine in para position > meta/ortho position. The pronounced isotope fractionation was observed for both carbon and bromine, with similar carbon (ε_C) and bromine isotope enrichment factor (ε_Br) between BDE-47 (ε_C = -5.98‰, ε_Br = -2.44‰) and BDE-153 (ε_C = -5.57‰, ε_Br = -2.06‰) during the microbial degradation. Compared to ε_C and ε_Br, the correlation of carbon and isotope effects (Λ_C/Br = Δδ⁸¹Br/Δδ¹³C) was almost the same between BDE-47 (0.436) and BDE-153 (0.435), indicating the similar reaction mechanism. The calculated carbon and bromine apparent kinetic isotope effects (AKIE_C and AKIE_Br) were 1.0773 and 1.0098 for BDE-47 and 1.0716 and 1.0125 for BDE-153, within range reported for degradation of halogenated compounds following nucleophilic substitution. Combination analysis of degradation products, Λ_C/Br and AKIE, all the results pointed to that the anaerobic reductive debromination of BDE-47 and BDE-153 followed the nucleophilic aromatic substitution, with the addition of cofactor to the benzene ring concomitant with dissociation of carbon-bromine bond via the inner-sphere electron transfer, and the cleavage of C-Br bond was the rate-determining step. This study contributed to the development of dual carbon-bromine isotope analysis as a robust approach to probe the fate of PBDEs in contaminated sites.

Mechanistic Aspects Regarding the Ultraviolet Degradation of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Different Media: Insights from Carbon and Chlorine Isotope Fractionation

In this study, the carbon and chlorine isotope fractionation during ultraviolet-photolysis of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, including PCB18, PCB77, PCB110, and PCB138) in n-hexane (Hex), methanol/water (MeOH/H₂O), and silica gel was first investigated to explore their mechanistic processes. We observed a significant variation in Λ_Cl-C (ε_Cl/ε_C) for the same PCBs in different photochemical systems, implying that PCB degradation processes in various photoreaction systems could differ. Although all substrates showed normal apparent carbon/chlorine kinetic isotope effects (C-/Cl-AKIE >1), the putative inverse C-AKIE of nondechlorinated pathways was suggested by ¹³C depletion of the average carbon isotope composition of PCB138 and corresponding dechlorinated products in MeOH/H₂O, which might originate from the magnetic isotope effect. Significant negative correlations were found between C-AKIE and relative disappearance quantum yields ("Φ") of ortho-dechlorinated substrates (PCB18, PCB110, and PCB138) in Hex and MeOH/H₂O. However, the C-AKIE and "Φ" of PCB77 (meta/para-dechlorinated congener) obviously deviated from the above correlations. Furthermore, significantly different product-related carbon isotope enrichment factors of PCB77 in Hex were found. These results demonstrated the existence of dechlorination position-specific and masking effects in carbon isotope fractionations.