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Sun Y, Xu Y, Wu H, Hou J. A critical review on BDE-209: Source, distribution, influencing factors, toxicity, and degradation. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 183:108410. [PMID: 38160509 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
As the most widely used polybrominated diphenyl ether, BDE-209 is commonly used in polymer-based commercial and household products. Due to its unique physicochemical properties, BDE-209 is ubiquitous in a variety of environmental compartments and can be exposed to organisms in various ways and cause toxic effects. The present review outlines the current state of knowledge on the occurrence of BDE-209 in the environment, influencing factors, toxicity, and degradation. BDE-209 has been detected in various environmental matrices including air, soil, water, and sediment. Additionally, environmental factors such as organic matter, total suspended particulate, hydrodynamic, wind, and temperature affecting BDE-209 are specifically discussed. Toxicity studies suggest BDE-209 may cause systemic toxic effects on living organisms, reproductive toxicity, embryo-fetal toxicity, genetic toxicity, endocrine toxicity, neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and developmental toxicity, or even be carcinogenic. BDE-209 has toxic effects on organisms mainly through epigenetic regulation and induction of oxidative stress. Evidence regarding the degradation of BDE-209, including biodegradation, photodegradation, Fenton degradation, zero-valent iron degradation, chemical oxidative degradation, and microwave radiation degradation is summarized. This review may contribute to assessing the environmental risks of BDE-209 to help develop rational management plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqiong Sun
- MOE Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Systems Optimization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Yanli Xu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Systems Optimization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Haodi Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Systems Optimization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Jing Hou
- MOE Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Systems Optimization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China.
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2
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Klimm A, Vetter W. Hydroxylated transformation products obtained after UV irradiation of the current-use brominated flame retardants hexabromobenzene, pentabromotoluene, and pentabromoethylbenzene. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:118556-118566. [PMID: 37917263 PMCID: PMC10697972 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30566-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Hexabromobenzene (HBB), pentabromotoluene (PBT), and pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB) are current-use brominated flame retardants (cuBFRs) which have been repeatedly detected in environmental samples. Since information on hydroxylated transformation products (OH-TPs) was scarcely available, the three polybrominated compounds were UV irradiated for 10 min in benzotrifluoride. Fractionation on silica gel enabled the separate collection and identification of OH-TPs. For more insights, aliquots of the separated OH-TPs were UV irradiated for another 50 min (60 min total UV irradiation time). The present investigation of polar UV irradiation products of HBB, PBT, and PBEB was successful in each case. Altogether, eight bromophenols were detected in the case of HBB (three Br3-, four Br4-, and one Br5-isomer), and nine OH-TPs were observed in the case of PBT/PBEB (six Br3- and three Br4-congeners). In either case, Br➔OH exchange was more relevant than H➔OH exchange. Also, such exchange was most relevant in meta- and ortho-positions. As a further point, and in agreement with other studies, the transformation rate decreased with decreasing degree of bromination. UV irradiation of HBB additionally resulted in the formation of tri- and tetrabrominated dihydroxylated compounds (brominated diphenols) that were subsequently identified. These dihydroxylated transformation products were found to be more stable than OH-TPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Klimm
- University of Hohenheim, Institute of Food Chemistry (170b), Garbenstraße 28, D-70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Walter Vetter
- University of Hohenheim, Institute of Food Chemistry (170b), Garbenstraße 28, D-70599, Stuttgart, Germany.
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3
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Kerric A, Mazerolle MJ, Sorais M, Giroux JF, Verreault J. Impact of landfill characteristics on the atmospheric exposure to halogenated flame retardants in gulls. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 343:140207. [PMID: 37734507 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Large amounts of consumer products containing halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) are disposed of annually in landfills, which may lead to significant releases of these semi-volatile contaminants into the environment. During their foraging activities in landfills, gulls can be exposed to elevated levels of HFRs in air. Ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) breeding in the densely populated Montreal area (QC, Canada) are significantly exposed to air levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in or in the vicinity of landfills. However, no information is currently available on the specific characteristics of these landfills that can modulate the atmospheric exposure of ring-billed gulls to HFRs. The objective of this study was to investigate how atmospheric exposure in ring-billed gulls to PBDEs and other HFRs is influenced by selected landfill characteristics (i.e., daily cover materials, waste types and tonnage). Miniature passive air samplers (PASs) combined with GPS dataloggers were deployed for ten days during six years on the back of wild-caught ring-billed gulls breeding in the Montreal area. Atmospheric levels of several PBDEs and other HFRs determined in PASs were found to increase with the presence probability of gulls in the two largest landfills using automotive shredder residues as daily cover material. Weather variables including relative humidity and wind speed had a weak influence on atmospheric levels of HFRs in the bird-borne PASs. Our results suggest that automotive shredder residues represent a significant emission source of HFRs into the air of landfills, thus influencing atmospheric exposure of gulls and other birds foraging in these sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs Kerric
- Centre de recherche en toxicologie de l'environnement (TOXEN), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Marc J Mazerolle
- Centre d'Étude de la Forêt (CEF), Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Manon Sorais
- Centre de recherche en toxicologie de l'environnement (TOXEN), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Jean-François Giroux
- Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Jonathan Verreault
- Centre de recherche en toxicologie de l'environnement (TOXEN), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada.
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4
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Pomata D, Di Filippo P, Riccardi C, Buiarelli F, Marini F, Romani L, Lucarelli F, Pazzi G, Galarini R, Simonetti G. Concentrations and co-occurrence of 101 emerging and legacy organic pollutants in the ultrafine, fine and coarse fractions of airborne particulates associated with treatment of waste from electrical and electronic equipment. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 338:139443. [PMID: 37453523 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Occupational exposure to airborne particles can increase the development of morbidity, also because of the chemical composition of particulate matter (PM). In workplace, where manual and mechanical disassembly of electric and electronic equipment (EEE) take place, there are evident risks of respiratory exposure to a great number of different toxic organic compounds present in the electrical and plastic materials of which the equipment is made. Airborne particles are numerous, cover a wide range of sizes and are rich in toxic organic compounds. In the present work, a sampling program was conducted and ultrafine, fine and coarse airborne particles were collected in three EEE waste treatment plants. Afterwards, the extraction and analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), their nitro and oxygenated derivatives (nitroPAHs, oxyPAHs), organophosphorus compounds (OPEs), Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs), and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFASs) was performed. The percentage ratio of the mass of organic compounds and the mass of the ultrafine fraction of PM (PM0.1) was higher than those of the fine and coarse fractions. Even with low concentrations, the co-occurrence of numerous potentially toxic compounds capable of easily reaching other organs passing by the lung vasculature, through the lymph makes the working environment unhealthy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Pomata
- DIT, Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), 00143, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Carmela Riccardi
- DIT, Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), 00143, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Federico Marini
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Leonardo Romani
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Franco Lucarelli
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and INFN, University of Florence, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Giulia Pazzi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and INFN, University of Florence, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Roberta Galarini
- Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Umbria and Marche, 06126, Perugia, Italy
| | - Giulia Simonetti
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
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5
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Xu M, Wang W, Feng J, Ruan Z, Le Y, Liu Y, Zhang Q, Wang C. The mechanism underlying pentabromoethylbenzene-induced adipogenesis and the obesogenic outcome in both cell and mouse model. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 178:108088. [PMID: 37429055 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Convergent evidence links traditional brominated flame retardants (BFRs) exposure to weight gain, while the obesogenic potency of new BFRs (NBFRs) remain largely unknown. Aiding by luciferase-reporter gene assay, the present study revealed only pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB), an alternative for penta-BDEs, binds with retinoid X receptor α (RXRα) but not peroxisomeproliferator receptor γ (PPARγ) among the seven testing NBFRs. An apparent induction of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells was observed at nanomolar of PBEB, much lower than penta-BFRs. Mechanistic research uncovered PBEB initiated the adipogenesis by demethylated CpG sites in the PPARγ promoter region. Specifically, activation RXRα by PBEB strengthened the activity of RXRα/PPARγ heterodimer, tightened the interaction between the heterodimer and PPAR response elements, and further enhanced adipogenesis. RNA sequencing combined with k-means clustering analysis exposed adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase and phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling as two predominant pathways that enriched in PBEB-induced lipogenesis. The obesogenic outcome was further corroborated in offspring mice when the maternal mice exposed to environmental relevant doses of PBEB. We found the male offspring exhibited adipocyte hypertrophy and increased weight gain in the epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT). Consistent with in vitro findings, the reduction in protein phosphorylation of both AMPK and PI3K/AKT were observed within eWAT. Thus, we posited PBEB disrupts the pathways controlling adipogenesis and adipose tissue maintenance, supporting its potential as an environmental obesogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengting Xu
- School of Life Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Wanyue Wang
- School of Life Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiafan Feng
- School of Life Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Zheng Ruan
- School of Public Health, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310013, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yifei Le
- School of Life Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Liu
- School of Life Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Quan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, People's Republic of China
| | - Cui Wang
- School of Life Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
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6
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Kerric A, Mazerolle MJ, Giroux JF, Verreault J. Halogenated flame retardant exposure pathways in urban-adapted gulls: Are atmospheric routes underestimated? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 860:160526. [PMID: 36471522 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Urban-adapted gulls can be exposed to flame retardants while foraging in landfills where elevated concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and other halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) have frequently been measured in air. However, the contribution of atmospheric exposure has largely been overlooked compared to dietary exposure in birds and other wildlife. The overall objective of this study was to investigate the contribution of atmospheric exposure pathways relative to diet for PBDEs and other HFRs in ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) nesting in the densely populated Montreal area (QC, Canada). Miniature passive air samplers (PASs) were deployed on the back of wild-caught ring-billed gulls for ten days. Concentrations of PBDEs and other HFRs were determined in PASs carried by ring-billed gulls as well as their lungs, stomach content, liver, preen oil, and onto the surface of their feathers. We evaluated the atmospheric and dietary exposure routes for the most abundant HFRs in samples using a structural equation model implemented in a Bayesian framework. Results indicated that lung concentrations of BDE-28 increased with its levels in air determined using bird-borne PASs. No association was found between BDE-28 concentrations in lungs and liver, whereas BDE-209 concentrations in liver increased with those in lungs. Moreover, BDE-28 and -47 concentrations in liver increased with those on feather surface, while liver BDE-47 concentrations were also positively related with those in stomach content. These findings suggested that, in addition to dietary exposure, atmospheric exposure pathways through inhalation and co-ingestion during feather maintenance (preening) significantly contribute to the accumulation of PBDEs in liver of ring-billed gulls. Atmospheric exposure to HFRs should therefore be considered in future landfill-foraging wildlife species as a potential exposure route compared to the traditional dietary exposure pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs Kerric
- Centre de recherche en toxicologie de l'environnement (TOXEN), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Marc J Mazerolle
- Centre d'Étude de la Forêt (CEF), Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Jean-François Giroux
- Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Jonathan Verreault
- Centre de recherche en toxicologie de l'environnement (TOXEN), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada.
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7
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Runde K, Castro G, Vike-Jonas K, González SV, Asimakopoulos AG, Arp HPH. Occurrence and sorption behaviour of bisphenols and benzophenone UV-filters in e-waste plastic and vehicle fluff. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 426:127814. [PMID: 34836692 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Bisphenols and benzophenone UV-filters are hazardous, high production volume chemicals. There is concern that these contaminants could leach into the environment or be recycled into new products during waste management. To investigate this, nine bisphenols and five benzophenones were quantified in Norwegian e-waste and car fluff. To understand their leachability, equilibrium passive sampling methodology, using polyoxymethylene (POM), was calibrated for these substances, many of which for the first time. This method can differentiate freely dissolved substances in the aqueous phase from those sorbed to suspended colloids and microplastics in the leachate water. Equilibrium POM partitioning was reached within 14 days of shaking; all bisphenols and benzophenone UV-filters exhibited linear isotherms (R2 ranged from 0.83 to 1.0), when deriving POM-water partition coefficients (KPOM). Bisphenol A and bisphenol F displayed the highest concentrations, with maximum levels of 246,000 and 42,400 ng g-1, respectively. Logarithms of waste-water partition coefficients (log Kwaste) ranged from 1.7 (benzophenone 2) to 4.5 (bisphenol P). The established KPOM values agreed with measured Kwaste values (within a factor of ~3), unlike octanol-water partition coefficients. This indicated that POM is a better surrogate for waste plastic partitioning than octanol. Results are discussed in the context of assessing risks from waste management in a circular economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Runde
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Gabriela Castro
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Kristine Vike-Jonas
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | | | | | - Hans Peter H Arp
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway; Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), NO-0806 Oslo, Norway.
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8
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Cheng Z, Shi Q, Wang Y, Zhao L, Li X, Sun Z, Lu Y, Liu N, Su G, Wang L, Sun H. Electronic-Waste-Driven Pollution of Liquid Crystal Monomers: Environmental Occurrence and Human Exposure in Recycling Industrial Parks. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:2248-2257. [PMID: 35107275 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) in liquid crystal displays (LCDs) may be released into the environment, especially in electronic waste (e-waste) recycling industrial parks with a high pollution risk. However, little has been known about the environmental release and human exposure to LCMs until now. Herein, a total of 45 LCMs were detected in LCDs of commonly used smartphones and computers by high-resolution mass spectrometry with suspect screening analysis. Fluorinated biphenyls and their analogs were the dominant LCMs. Based on available standards of the screening results and previous studies, 55 LCMs were quantified in samples from an e-waste recycling industrial park in Central China. The LCMs were frequently detected in outdoor dust (n = 43), workshop #1 indoor dust (n = 53), and hand (n = 43) and forehead wipes (n = 43), with median concentrations of 6950 ng/g, 67,400 ng/g, 46,100 ng/m2, and 62,100 ng/m2, respectively. The median estimated daily intake values of the LCMs via dust ingestion and dermal absorption were 48.3 and 16.5 ng/kg body weight/day, respectively, indicating a high occupational exposure risk of these compounds. In addition, 16 LCMs were detected in the serum of eight elderly people (≥60 years old) with over 5 years of experience in e-waste dismantling operations, resulting in a total concentration range of 3.9-26.3 ng/mL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhipeng Cheng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Qingyang Shi
- Department of Environmental Science, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Yu Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Leicheng Zhao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Zhaoyang Sun
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Yuan Lu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Na Liu
- Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Guanyong Su
- School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lei Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Hongwen Sun
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
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Ma Y, Stubbings WA, Abdallah MAE, Cline-Cole R, Harrad S. Formal waste treatment facilities as a source of halogenated flame retardants and organophosphate esters to the environment: A critical review with particular focus on outdoor air and soil. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 807:150747. [PMID: 34619188 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Extensive use of halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) and organophosphate esters (OPEs) has generated great concern about their adverse effects on environmental and ecological safety and human health. As well as emissions during use of products containing such chemicals, there are mounting concerns over emissions when such products reach the waste stream. Here, we review the available data on contamination with HFRs and OPEs arising from formal waste treatment facilities (including but not limited to e-waste recycling, landfill, and incinerators). Evidence of the transfer of HFRs and OPEs from products to the environment shows that it occurs via mechanisms such as: volatilisation, abrasion, and leaching. Higher contaminant vapour pressure, increased temperature, and elevated concentrations of HFRs and OPEs in products contribute greatly to their emissions to air, with highest emission rates usually observed in the early stages of test chamber experiments. Abrasion of particles and fibres from products is ubiquitous and likely to contribute to elevated FR concentrations in soil. Leaching to aqueous media of brominated FRs (BFRs) is likely to be a second-order process, with elevated dissolved humic matter and temperature of leaching fluids likely to facilitate such emissions. However, leaching characteristics of OPEs are less well-understood and require further investigation. Data on the occurrence of HFRs and OPEs in outdoor air and soil in the vicinity of formal e-waste treatment facilities suggests such facilities exert a considerable impact. Waste dumpsites and landfills constitute a potential source of HFRs and OPEs to soil, and improper management of waste disposal might also contribute to HFR contamination in ambient air. Current evidence suggests minimal impact of waste incineration plants on BFR contamination in outdoor air and soil, but further investigation is required to confirm this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulong Ma
- School of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - William A Stubbings
- School of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | | | - Reginald Cline-Cole
- Department of African Studies & Anthropology, School of History and Cultures, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Stuart Harrad
- School of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
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10
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Ko CF, Yang YC, Wen Liu JIW, Shih YH. Thermal treatment of decabrominated diphenyl ether in its highly contaminated soil in Taiwan. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 287:131924. [PMID: 34492411 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Revised: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were commonly used flame retardants in the world, while some of PBDEs have been listed as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Decabrominated diphenyl ether (BDE-209) was the most commercially used PBDEs. A farm near the factory located in Northern Taiwan was highly contaminated with BDE-209. Since PBDEs in the contaminated soils can be uptake by crops shown in our previous studies and could be potentially consumed by humans, it is very important to establish a feasible treatment method for PBDE remediation in this contaminated farm. Thermal treatment of PBDEs in soil was studied. The initial concentration of BDE-209 in contaminated soil was 1.472 mg/kg. A series of thermal experiments under different operating conditions including various temperature (105, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400 and 450 °C), holding time (10, 20 and 30 min), heating rate (5, 10, 20 and 40 °C/min), and soil amount (10, 100, 1000 and 2000 g) were investigated. The optimal heating conditions for thermal treatment of contaminated soil were heating at 450 °C for 30 min with a heating rate of 10 °C/min. Under this condition, the removal of BDE-209 in the different weights of contaminated soil was tested. The soils in the contaminated farm were tested to further evaluate the feasibility of remediating the on-site PBDE contaminated soil through thermal treatment, suggesting that the holding time was extended to 2 h for the field-scale contaminated soil. The results showed that BDE-209 had been removed to below the detection limit in on-site soil. This investigation is the first study using thermal treatment to remediate soils really contaminated with PBDEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Fong Ko
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 106, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chen Yang
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 106, Taiwan
| | - Jennifer Ia Wen Wen Liu
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 106, Taiwan
| | - Yang-Hsin Shih
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
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11
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Rummel CD, Schäfer H, Jahnke A, Arp HPH, Schmitt-Jansen M. Effects of leachates from UV-weathered microplastic on the microalgae Scenedesmus vacuolatus. Anal Bioanal Chem 2021; 414:1469-1479. [PMID: 34936008 PMCID: PMC8761717 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-021-03798-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Plastics undergo successive fragmentation and chemical leaching steps in the environment due to weathering processes such as photo-oxidation. Here, we report the effects of leachates from UV-irradiated microplastics towards the chlorophyte Scenedesmus vacuolatus. The microplastics tested were derived from an additive-containing electronic waste (EW) and a computer keyboard (KB) as well as commercial virgin polymers with low additive content, including polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS). Whereas leachates from additive-containing EW and KB induced severe effects, the leachates from virgin PET, PP, and PS did not show substantial adverse effects in our autotrophic test system. Leachates from PE reduced algae biomass, cell growth, and photosynthetic activity. Experimental data were consistent with predicted effect concentrations based on the ionization-corrected liposome/water distribution ratios (Dlip/w) of polymer degradation products of PE (mono- and dicarboxylic acids), indicating that leachates from weathering PE were mainly baseline toxic. This study provides insight into algae toxicity elicited by leachates from UV-weathered microplastics of different origin, complementing the current particle- vs. chemical-focused research towards the toxicity of plastics and their leachates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph D Rummel
- Department of Bioanalytical Ecotoxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hannah Schäfer
- Department of Bioanalytical Ecotoxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Annika Jahnke
- Department of Ecological Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute for Environmental Research, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Hans Peter H Arp
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), Ullevål Stadion, P.O. Box 3930, 0806, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Chemistry, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Mechthild Schmitt-Jansen
- Department of Bioanalytical Ecotoxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany.
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12
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Hou R, Lin L, Li H, Liu S, Xu X, Xu Y, Jin X, Yuan Y, Wang Z. Occurrence, bioaccumulation, fate, and risk assessment of novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) in aquatic environments - A critical review. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 198:117168. [PMID: 33962238 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs), which have been developed as replacements for legacy flame retardants such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), are a class of alternative flame retardants with emerging and widespread applications. The ubiquitous occurrence of NBFRs in the aquatic environments and the potential adverse effects on aquatic organisms have initiated intense global concerns. The present article, therefore, identifies and analyzes the current state of knowledge on the occurrence, bioaccumulation, fates, and environmental and health risks of NBFRs in aquatic environments. The key findings from this review are that (1) the distribution of NBFRs are source-dependent in the global aquatic environments, and several NBFRs have been reported at higher concentrations than that of the legacy flame retardants; (2) high bioaccumulative properties have been found for all of the discussed NBFRs due to their strong hydrophobic characteristics and weak metabolic rates; (3) the limited information available suggests that NBFRs are resistant to biotic and abiotic degradation processes and that sorption to sludge and sediments are the main fate of NBFRs in the aquatic environments; (4) the results of ecological risk assessments have indicated the potential risks of NBFRs and have suggested that source areas are the most vulnerable environmental compartments. Knowledge gaps and perspectives for future research regarding the monitoring, toxicokinetics, transformation processes, and development of ecological risk assessments of NBFRs in aquatic environments are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Hou
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
| | - Lang Lin
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
| | - Hengxiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
| | - Shan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
| | - Xiangrong Xu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China.
| | - Yiping Xu
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Xiaowei Jin
- China National Environmental Monitoring Center, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Yong Yuan
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zijian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
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13
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Cardamone GF, Ardolino F, Arena U. About the environmental sustainability of the European management of WEEE plastics. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2021; 126:119-132. [PMID: 33743338 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2021.02.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
A huge increase of waste of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is observing everywhere in the world. Plastic component in this waste is more than 20% of the total and allows important environmental advantages if well treated and recycled. The resource recovery from WEEE plastics is characterised by technical difficulties and environmental concerns, mainly related to the waste composition (several engineering polymers, most of which containing heavy metals, additives and brominated flame retardants) and the common utilisation of sub-standard treatments for exported waste. An attributional Life Cycle Assessment quantifies the environmental performances of available management processes for WEEE plastics, those in compliance with the European Directives and the so-called substandard treatments. The results highlight the awful negative contributions of waste exportation and associated improper treatments, and the poor sustainability of the current management scheme. The ideal scenario of complete compliance with European Directives is the only one with an almost negligible effect on the environment, but it is far away from the reality. The analysed real scenarios have strongly negative effects, which become dramatic when exportation outside Europe is included in the waste management scheme. The largely adopted options of uncontrolled open burning and illegal open dumping produce huge impacts in terms of carcinogens (3.5·10+7 and 3.6·10+4 person⋅year, respectively) and non-carcinogens (1.7·10+8 and 2.0·10+6 person⋅year) potentials, which overwhelm all the other potential impacts. The study quantifies the necessity of strong reductions of WEEE plastics exportation and accurate monitoring of the quality of extra-Europe infrastructures that receive the waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Francesco Cardamone
- Department of Environmental, Biological, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi, 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Filomena Ardolino
- Department of Environmental, Biological, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi, 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy.
| | - Umberto Arena
- Department of Environmental, Biological, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi, 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
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14
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Tongue ADW, Fernie KJ, Harrad S, Drage DS, McGill RAR, Reynolds SJ. Interspecies comparisons of brominated flame retardants in relation to foraging ecology and behaviour of gulls frequenting a UK landfill. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 764:142890. [PMID: 33131861 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This study quantifies and compares concentrations and profiles of legacy and alternative (alt-) brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in the eggs of three gull (Laridae) species of international/UK conservation concern - great black-backed gulls (Larus marinus; n = 7), European herring gulls (L. argentatus; n = 16) and lesser black-backed gulls (L. fuscus; n = 11) in relation to their foraging ecology and behaviour in order to investigate potential exposure pathways at a remote landfill in western Scotland, UK. Egg concentrations of sum (∑) polybrominated diphenyl ethers (∑8PBDEs) in all three species exceeded those for most reported avian species using landfill, except for those in North America. Despite relatively high detection frequencies of ∑hexabromocyclododecanes (∑3HBCDDs) (94-100%), concentrations of ∑8PBDEs exceeded ∑3HBCDDs and ∑5alt-BFRs, with ∑8PBDE levels similar in all three species. Egg carbon isotopic (δ13C) values highlighted a greater marine dietary input in great black-backed gulls that was consistent with their higher BDE-47 levels; otherwise, dietary tracers were minimally correlated with measured BFRs. ∑3HBCDD egg concentrations of herring gulls markedly exceeded those reported elsewhere in Europe. Decabromodiphenylethane (DBDPE) was the only alt-BFR detected (6-14% detection rate), in a single egg of each species. The great black-backed gull egg contained the highest concentration of DBDPE measured in biota to date globally and provides strong evidence for its emerging environmental presence as a BDE-209 replacement in UK wildlife. Correlations between δ13C (dietary source) and some measured BFRs in eggs suggest multiple routes of BFR exposure for gulls frequenting landfill through their diet, behaviour, preening, dermal exposure and likely inhalation. The frequent use of landfill by herring gulls and their increased egg BFR burdens suggest that this species may be an important bioindicator of BFR emissions from such sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D W Tongue
- Centre for Ornithology, School of Biosciences, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
| | - Kim J Fernie
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Environment & Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Burlington, ON L7S 1A1, Canada.
| | - Stuart Harrad
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Daniel S Drage
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Rona A R McGill
- Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, NERC Life Sciences Mass Spectrometry Facility, East Kilbride G75 0QF, UK
| | - S James Reynolds
- Centre for Ornithology, School of Biosciences, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; The Army Ornithological Society (AOS), c/o Prince Consort Library, Knollys Road, Aldershot, Hampshire GU11 1PS, UK
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15
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Kerric A, Okeme J, Jantunen L, Giroux JF, Diamond ML, Verreault J. Spatial and temporal variations of halogenated flame retardants and organophosphate esters in landfill air: Potential linkages with gull exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 271:116396. [PMID: 33535362 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Landfills represent important sources of local emissions of organic contaminants, including halogenated (HFR) and organophosphate ester (OPE) flame retardants used in a large variety of consumer products. Gulls foraging in landfills may be exposed to elevated atmospheric concentrations of HFRs and OPEs that may vary spatially and temporally within a landfill site, thus modulating their exposure. The objective of the present study was to investigate the spatial and temporal variability of HFR and OPE concentrations in air samples collected from a major landfill in the Montreal area (QC, Canada) that is frequently visited by gulls for foraging. Miniature stationary passive air samplers (PASs) and high-volume active air samplers (AASs) were deployed in six different areas within this landfill site for 34 days to collect HFRs and OPEs in air. During the same period, wild-caught ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) were equipped on their back with a similar miniature PAS that was deployed in the landfill along with a GPS datalogger to monitor their movements for ten days. Elevated concentrations of certain OPEs (e.g., tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate and tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate) and brominated diphenyl ether (BDE)-209 were measured in stationary PASs and AASs, although they were homogenously distributed within this landfill site. Temporal variability was observed for concentrations of BDE-209, -99 and -47 measured in AASs as well as tributyl phosphate during the 34-day deployment period. Moreover, air concentrations of BDE-209, -207 and -206 and selected OPEs (tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate and tris(methylphenyl) phosphate) determined using AASs were positively correlated with ambient air temperatures. Gulls that visited a landfill at least once exhibited significantly greater concentrations of BDE-47 measured in PASs they carried on their back, suggesting that landfill air may represent a source of exposure to PBDEs for these birds, and potentially other urban-adapted wildlife using these sites for foraging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs Kerric
- Centre de recherche en toxicologie de l'environnement (TOXEN), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Joseph Okeme
- Department of Physical and Environmental Science, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Liisa Jantunen
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Egbert, ON, L0L 1N0, Canada
| | - Jean-François Giroux
- Groupe de recherche en écologie comportementale et animale (GRECA), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Miriam L Diamond
- Department of Physical and Environmental Science, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Jonathan Verreault
- Centre de recherche en toxicologie de l'environnement (TOXEN), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada.
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16
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Sorais M, Spiegel O, Mazerolle MJ, Giroux JF, Verreault J. Gulls foraging in landfills: Does atmospheric exposure to halogenated flame retardants result in bioaccumulation? ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 147:106369. [PMID: 33418198 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Several bird species have adapted to foraging in landfills, although these sites are known to represent significant sources of emissions of toxic semi-volatile chemicals including the halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) (e.g., polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and emerging compounds). The objective of this study was to investigate the association between atmospheric exposure to PBDEs and selected emerging HFRs and their bioaccumulation in landfill-foraging birds. We determined HFR concentrations in liver of 58 GPS-tagged ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) breeding in a colony near Montreal (Canada) as well as their atmospheric exposure determined using a miniature bird-borne passive air sampler. PBDE mixtures were the most abundant HFRs determined in passive air samplers (daily exposure rates of ∑9PentaBDE: 47.4 ± 6.5 pg/day; DecaBDE: 36.0 ± 6.3 pg/day, and ∑3OctaBDE: 3.4 ± 0.5 pg/day) and liver (∑9PentaBDE: 68.1 ± 8.9 ng/g ww; DecaBDE: 52.3 ± 8.1 ng/g ww, and ∑3OctaBDE: 12.8 ± 2.1 ng/g ww), and their concentrations increased with the presence probability of gulls in landfills. We found a spatial relationship between the local sources of atmospheric exposure to PBDEs and the sites associated with greatest PBDE concentrations in liver. Specifically, the atmospheric exposure index was correlated with the bioaccumulation index (Pearson r for ∑9PentaBDE: r = 0.63, p < 0.001; DecaBDE: r = 0.66, p < 0.001, and ∑3OctaBDE: r = 0.42, p < 0.001). However, we found no correlation at the individual level between daily exposure rates of HFRs in passive air samplers and their liver concentrations. This suggests that complex exposure pathways combined with toxicokinetic factors shaped HFR profiles in gull liver, potentially confounding the relationships with atmospheric exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Sorais
- Centre de recherche en toxicologie de l'environnement (TOXEN), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Orr Spiegel
- School of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Marc J Mazerolle
- Centre d'Étude de la Forêt (CEF), Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Jean-François Giroux
- Groupe de recherche en écologie comportementale et animale (GRECA), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Jonathan Verreault
- Centre de recherche en toxicologie de l'environnement (TOXEN), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada.
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17
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Wania F, Shunthirasingham C. Passive air sampling for semi-volatile organic chemicals. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2020; 22:1925-2002. [PMID: 32822447 DOI: 10.1039/d0em00194e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
During passive air sampling, the amount of a chemical taken up in a sorbent from the air without the help of a pump is quantified and converted into an air concentration. In an equilibrium sampler, this conversion requires a thermodynamic parameter, the equilibrium sorption coefficient between gas-phase and sorbent. In a kinetic sampler, a time-averaged air concentration is obtained using a sampling rate, which is a kinetic parameter. Design requirements for kinetic and equilibrium sampling conflict with each other. The volatility of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) varies over five orders of magnitude, which implies that passive air samplers are inevitably kinetic samplers for less volatile SVOCs and equilibrium samplers for more volatile SVOCs. Therefore, most currently used passive sampler designs for SVOCs are a compromise that requires the consideration of both a thermodynamic and a kinetic parameter. Their quantitative interpretation depends on assumptions that are rarely fulfilled, and on input parameters, that are often only known with high uncertainty. Kinetic passive air sampling for SVOCs is also challenging because their typically very low atmospheric concentrations necessitate relatively high sampling rates that can only be achieved without the use of diffusive barriers. This in turn renders sampling rates dependent on wind conditions and therefore highly variable. Despite the overall high uncertainty arising from these challenges, passive air samplers for SVOCs have valuable roles to play in recording (i) spatial concentration variability at scales ranging from a few centimeters to tens of thousands of kilometers, (ii) long-term trends, (iii) air contamination in remote and inaccessible locations and (iv) indoor inhalation exposure. Going forward, thermal desorption of sorbents may lower the detection limits for some SVOCs to an extent that the use of diffusive barriers in the kinetic sampling of SVOCs becomes feasible, which is a prerequisite to decreasing the uncertainty of sampling rates. If the thermally stable sorbent additionally has a high sorptive capacity, it may be possible to design true kinetic samplers for most SVOCs. In the meantime, the passive air sampling community would benefit from being more transparent by rigorously quantifying and explicitly reporting uncertainty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Wania
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada.
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18
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Li P, Li Q, Hao Z, Yu S, Liu J. Analytical methods and environmental processes of nanoplastics. J Environ Sci (China) 2020; 94:88-99. [PMID: 32563491 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2020.03.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The degradation of plastic debris may result in the generation of nanoplastics (NPs). Their high specific surface area for the sorption of organic pollutions and toxic heavy metals and possible transfer between organisms at different nutrient levels make the study of NPs an urgent priority. However, there is very limited understanding on the occurrence, distribution, abundant, and fate of NPs in the environment, partially due to the lack of suitable techniques for the separation and identification of NPs from complex environmental matrices. In this review, we first overviewed the state-of-the-art methods for the extraction, separation, identification and quantification of NPs in the environment. Some of them have been successfully applied for the field determination of NPs, while some are borrowed from the detection of microplastics or engineered nanomaterials. Then the possible fate and transport of NPs in the environment are thoroughly described. Although great efforts have been made during the recent years, large knowledge gaps still exist, such as the relatively high detection limit of existing method failing to detect ultralow masses of NPs in the environment, and spherical polystyrene NP models failing to represent the various compositions of NPs with different irregular shapes, which needs further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qingcun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhineng Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Sujuan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
| | - Jingfu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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19
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Arp HPH, Morin NAO, Andersson PL, Hale SE, Wania F, Breivik K, Breedveld GD. The presence, emission and partitioning behavior of polychlorinated biphenyls in waste, leachate and aerosols from Norwegian waste-handling facilities. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 715:136824. [PMID: 32007879 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Even though production and open use of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been phased out in Western industrialised countries since the 1980s, PCBs were still present in waste collected from different waste handling facilities in Norway in 2013. Sums of seven indicator-PCBs (I-PCB7: PCB-28, -52, -101, -118, -138, -153 and -180) were highest in plastic waste (3700 ±1800 μg/kg, n=15), waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) (1300 ± 400 μg/kg, n=12) and fine vehicle fluff (1800 ± 1400 μg/kg, n=4) and lowest in glass waste, combustibles, bottom ash and fly ash (0.3 to 65 μg/kg). Concentrations in leachate water varied from 1.7 to 2900 ng/L, with higher concentrations found at vehicle and WEEE handling facilities. Particles in leachate water exhibited similar PCB sorption properties as solid waste collected on site, with waste-water partitioning coefficients ranging from 105 to 107. I-PCB7 in air samples collected at the sites were mostly in the gas phase (100-24000 pg/m3), compared to those associated with particles (9-1900 pg/m3). In contrast, brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in the same samples were predominantly found associated with particles (e.g. sum of 10 brominated diethyl ethers, ΣBDE10, associated with particles 77-194,000 pg/m3) compared to the gas phase (ΣBDE10 6-473 pg/m3). Measured gas-phase I-PCB7 concentrations are less than predicted, assuming waste-air partitioning in equilibrium with predominant waste on site. However, the gas-particle partitioning behavior of PCBs and BFRs could be predicted using an established partitioning model for ambient aerosols. PCB emissions from Norwegian waste handling facilities occurred primarily in the form of atmospheric vapor or leachate particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Peter H Arp
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway; Department of Chemistry, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), N-7491 Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Nicolas A O Morin
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway; Environmental and Food Laboratory of Vendée (LEAV), Department of Chemistry, Rond-point Georges Duval CS 80802, 85021 La Roche-sur-Yon, France
| | | | - Sarah E Hale
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway
| | - Frank Wania
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Knut Breivik
- Norwegian Institute for Air Research, P.O. Box 100, NO-2027 Kjeller, Norway; Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1033, NO-0315 Oslo, Norway
| | - Gijs D Breedveld
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), P.O. Box 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway; Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1047, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway
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20
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Sorais M, Mazerolle MJ, Giroux JF, Verreault J. Landfills represent significant atmospheric sources of exposure to halogenated flame retardants for urban-adapted gulls. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 135:105387. [PMID: 31841804 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) are contaminants that are abundantly emitted from waste management facilities (WMFs) and that became ubiquitous in air of urbanized regions. Urban birds including gulls have adapted to exploiting human food resources (refuse) in WMFs, and have thus experienced population explosions worldwide. However, foraging in WMFs for birds may result in exposure to HFRs that have been shown to be toxic for animals. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of foraging near or in various WMFs on the atmospheric exposure of birds to HFRs, and to localize other sources of HFRs at the regional scale in a highly urbanized environment. We measured the atmospheric exposure to HFRs in one of the most abundant gull species in North America, the ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis), breeding in the densely-populated Montreal area (Canada) using a novel approach combining bird-borne GPS dataloggers and miniature passive air samplers (PASs). We determined concentrations of 11 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and three emerging HFRs of high environmental concern in PASs carried by gulls. We show that the daily sampling rates (pg/day) of PBDEs in PASs were highest in gulls foraging in or around landfills, but were not influenced by meteorological variables. In contrast, the daily sampling rates of emerging HFRs were lower compared to PBDEs and were not influenced by the presence of gulls in or near WMFs. This study demonstrates that atmospheric exposure to HFRs and perhaps other semi-volatile contaminants is underestimated, yet important for birds foraging in landfills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Sorais
- Centre de recherche en toxicologie de l'environnement (TOXEN), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Marc J Mazerolle
- Centre d'étude de la forêt (CEF), Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt, Université Laval, 2405 rue de la Terrasse, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Jean-François Giroux
- Groupe de recherche en écologie comportementale et animale (GRECA), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Jonathan Verreault
- Centre de recherche en toxicologie de l'environnement (TOXEN), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada.
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21
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Chou TH, Ou MH, Wu TY, Chen DY, Shih YH. Temporal and spatial surveys of polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDEs) contamination of soil near a factory using PBDEs in northern Taiwan. CHEMOSPHERE 2019; 236:124117. [PMID: 31323549 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.06.087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), previously commonly used as flame retardants, should be monitored in the environment since some are listed as persistent organic pollutants. A contaminated site near a northern Taiwan factory using decabrominated diphenyl ether (deca-BDE) was identified based on a vegetable PBDEs monitoring project in 2013. The subsequent spatial and temporal survey of that contaminated site shows the contamination ingredients in soils were close to ones used by the factory, indicating that contamination was from the factory, possibly through an exhaust vent. The average concentration of deca-BDE in the main contaminated soil was 615 μg/kg d. w. (dry weight) soil in 2015, slightly decreasing to 604 μg/kg d. w. soil in 2016, increasing to 844 μg/kg d. w. soil in 2017, and then slightly decreasing to 670 μg/kg d. w. soil in 2018. The slight change of deca-BDE and the minor change in low brominated congener level indicate a low degradation rate. The contamination of peripheral sites was around 5000 μg/kg d. w. soil for one PBDEs sampling site that was higher than those around or within the main contaminated farm, indicating serious pollution. Concentrations of PBDEs in different soil depths show that depth 2-15 cm accounted for the greatest PBDEs accumulation, indicating that deca-BDE pollution had been present over time and transported into deeper soil. There can be PBDEs uptake by crops consumed by humans, as shown in our previous studies, so continuous monitoring of PBDEs in this site is important and treatments should be established urgently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzu-Ho Chou
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 106, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ming-Han Ou
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 106, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Tien-Yu Wu
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 106, Taiwan, ROC
| | - De-Yu Chen
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 106, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yang-Hsin Shih
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 106, Taiwan, ROC.
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22
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Rummel CD, Escher BI, Sandblom O, Plassmann MM, Arp HPH, MacLeod M, Jahnke A. Effects of Leachates from UV-Weathered Microplastic in Cell-Based Bioassays. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:9214-9223. [PMID: 31257880 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b02400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Standard ecotoxicological testing of microplastic does not provide insight into the influence that environmental weathering by, e.g., UV light has on related effects. In this study, we leached chemicals from plastic into artificial seawater during simulated UV-induced weathering. We tested largely additive-free preproduction polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, and polystyrene and two types of plastic obtained from electronic equipment as positive controls. Leachates were concentrated by solid-phase extraction and dosed into cell-based bioassays that cover (i) cytotoxicity; (ii) activation of metabolic enzymes via binding to the arylhydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARγ); (iii) specific, receptor-mediated effects (estrogenicity, ERα); and (iv) adaptive response to oxidative stress (AREc32). LC-HRMS analysis was used to identify possible chain-scission products of polymer degradation, which were then tested in AREc32 and PPARγ. Explicit activation of all assays by the positive controls provided proof-of-concept of the experimental setup to demonstrate effects of chemicals liberated during weathering. All plastic leachates activated the oxidative stress response, in most cases with increased induction by UV-treated samples compared to dark controls. For PPARγ, polyethylene-specific effects were partially explained by the detected dicarboxylic acids. Since the preproduction plastic showed low effects often in the range of the blanks future studies should investigate implications of weathering on end consumer products containing additives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph D Rummel
- Department of Bioanalytical Ecotoxicology and Department of Cell Toxicology , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ , Permoserstraße 15 , DE-04318 Leipzig , Germany
| | - Beate I Escher
- Department of Bioanalytical Ecotoxicology and Department of Cell Toxicology , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ , Permoserstraße 15 , DE-04318 Leipzig , Germany
- Center for Applied Geoscience , Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Environmental Toxicology , Hölderlinstraße 12 , DE-72074 Tübingen , Germany
| | - Oskar Sandblom
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES) , Stockholm University , Svante Arrhenius väg 8 , SE-114 18 Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Merle M Plassmann
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES) , Stockholm University , Svante Arrhenius väg 8 , SE-114 18 Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Hans Peter H Arp
- Department of Environmental Engineering , Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) , Sognsvann 72 , NO-0855 Oslo , Norway
- Department of Chemistry , Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) , NO-7491 Trondheim , Norway
| | - Matthew MacLeod
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES) , Stockholm University , Svante Arrhenius väg 8 , SE-114 18 Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Annika Jahnke
- Department of Bioanalytical Ecotoxicology and Department of Cell Toxicology , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ , Permoserstraße 15 , DE-04318 Leipzig , Germany
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23
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Stubbings WA, Nguyen LV, Romanak K, Jantunen L, Melymuk L, Arrandale V, Diamond ML, Venier M. Flame retardants and plasticizers in a Canadian waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) dismantling facility. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 675:594-603. [PMID: 31030164 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Here we report on the concentrations of 79 flame retardants (FRs) and plasticizers, including 34 polybrominated diphenyl ethers or PBDE congeners, 17 "novel" brominated FRs (NBFRs), 15 dechloranes, and 13 organophosphate esters (OPEs) in air (n = 9) and dust (n = 24) samples from an active waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) dismantling facility in Ontario, Canada, collected in February-March 2017. This is the first study of its kind in North America. The facility processes a range of WEEE including monitors, computers, printers, phones, and toys. Of the 79 target compounds, at least 60 were detected at a frequency of at least 50% in both air and dust. Dust and air concentrations were dominated by three compounds: BDE-209 (median 110,000 ng/g and 100 ng/m3, respectively), DBDPE (median 41,000 ng/g and 41 ng/m3), and TPhP (median 42,000 ng/g and 27 ng/m3). Levels of PBDEs, NBFRs, and dechloranes were close to two orders-of-magnitude higher in dust from the dismantling facility than in residential homes, while OPEs were one order-of-magnitude higher. Congener profiles of PBDEs indicated debromination of BDE-209. We calculated that a total mass of 44 ± 1 mg day-1 of 79 target analytes were released to air from WEEE processed in the dismantling hall and a further 270 ± 91 mg day-1 were released to dust. It is clear that WEEE dismantling facilities are a serious concern as a source of emissions for a wide range of FRs at relatively high concentrations to both workers and the immediate environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- William A Stubbings
- School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States
| | - Linh V Nguyen
- Department of Physical and Environmental Science, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Kevin Romanak
- School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States
| | - Liisa Jantunen
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Lisa Melymuk
- Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, Pavilion A29, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Victoria Arrandale
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X3, Canada
| | - Miriam L Diamond
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B1, Canada; Department of Physical and Environmental Science, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X3, Canada
| | - Marta Venier
- School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States.
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24
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Tongue ADW, Reynolds SJ, Fernie KJ, Harrad S. Flame retardant concentrations and profiles in wild birds associated with landfill: A critical review. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 248:646-658. [PMID: 30844700 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.01.103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Revised: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Given factors such as their persistence and toxicity, legacy brominated flame retardants (BFRs) like polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD), are designated as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and are subject to regulation. Waste streams likely represent a substantial reservoir of legacy BFRs given that they were once widely applied to goods which are increasingly likely to be obsolete. Waste streams are also increasingly likely to be a source of emerging flame retardants, in particular, novel BFRs (NBFRs), the halogenated norbornene flame retardant Dechlorane Plus (DDC-CO) and the brominated, chlorinated or non-halogenated organophosphate triester flame retardants (PFRs). Many bird populations rely on landfill and its surrounding land-use for inter alia the opportunities it provides for activities such as foraging and resting. However, studies on captive and wild (free-living) birds have demonstrated deleterious effects of several FRs. Globally, approximately 250 bird species, including many of conservation concern, are reported to use landfill and surrounding habitat (including wastewater treatment operations), thus putting birds potentially at risk of exposure to such chemicals. We synthesise and critically evaluate a total of 18 studies covering eight avian species published between 2008 and 2018 (inclusive) across four continents that report flame retardant (FR) burdens in birds utilising landfill. Several such studies found FRs at among the highest concentrations detected in wild biota to date. We recommend that ongoing research be focused on landfill-associated birds, given that landfill is an important source of FRs and other anthropogenic chemicals, and particularly at sites where species are of conservation concern. We suggest ways in which the comparative power of studies could be enhanced in the future, the reporting of a minimum common suite of key chemicals, and where feasible, standardisation of the tissue compartments (i.e., eggs) to be studied. We conclude by identifying future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D W Tongue
- Centre for Ornithology, School of Biosciences, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK; School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - S James Reynolds
- Centre for Ornithology, School of Biosciences, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK; The Army Ornithological Society (AOS), c/o Prince Consort Library, Knollys Road, Aldershot, Hampshire, GU11 1PS, UK
| | - Kim J Fernie
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK; Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Environment & Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Burlington, ON, L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - Stuart Harrad
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
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25
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Cristale J, Aragão Belé TG, Lacorte S, de Marchi MRR. Occurrence of flame retardants in landfills: A case study in Brazil. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 168:420-427. [PMID: 30388499 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Revised: 10/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Huge amounts of waste containing flame retardants reach landfills annually, which can result in environmental contamination if this type of solid residues is not properly managed. This study presents data concerning the occurrence of organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and new brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) in soil, dust, leachate and well water samples from a landfill in Brazil. Samples were collected in different points of the landfill site, including offices, concierge, electronic waste storage area, bulk waste storage area, a place where a recycling cooperative operates, leachate pound and wells. Most of the flame retardants (FRs) were quantified in soil samples (up to 2500 ng g-1). The tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP) and tris(1,3-dichloroisopropyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) were present at the highest levels in the site where bulk waste was disposed in the open air. The most abundant brominated FRs in soil samples were BDE-99, BDE-209, decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) and 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane (BTBPE), and the highest levels were observed in the samples collected from the electronic waste storage area. Concerning dust samples, the highest levels of brominated FRs were observed in the electronic waste storage area, while the highest levels of OPFRs were observed in the landfill office. TCIPP, TDCIPP and tris(2-choroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) were quantified in the well water sample collected downstream the bulk waste area. Finally, six OPFRs were quantified in leachate at concentrations ranging from 14 to 965 ng L-1. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that an improper management of wastes containing FRs in landfills can potentially contaminate the surrounding environment and groundwater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce Cristale
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Professor Francisco Degni 55, 14800-060 Araraquara, SP, Brazil.
| | - Tiago Gomes Aragão Belé
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Professor Francisco Degni 55, 14800-060 Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Silvia Lacorte
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18-2, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mary Rosa Rodrigues de Marchi
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Professor Francisco Degni 55, 14800-060 Araraquara, SP, Brazil
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26
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McGrath TJ, Morrison PD, Ball AS, Clarke BO. Spatial Distribution of Novel and Legacy Brominated Flame Retardants in Soils Surrounding Two Australian Electronic Waste Recycling Facilities. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:8194-8204. [PMID: 30004224 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b02469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Informal recycling of electronic waste (e-waste) has been shown to cause significant brominated flame retardant (BFR) contamination of surrounding soils in a number of Asian and West African countries. However, to the authors' knowledge, there have been no published studies demonstrating polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) and novel brominated flame retardant (NBFR) soil contamination from regulated "formal" e-waste processing facilities in developed countries. This study reports on PBDEs (-28, -47, -99, -100, -153, -154, -183, and -209) and NBFRs (PBT, PBEB, HBB, EH-TBB, BTBPE and DBDPE) in 36 soil samples surrounding two Australian e-waste recycling plants and a further eight reference soils. Overall ∑PBDE concentrations ranged 0.10-98 000 ng/g dw (median; 92 ng/g dw) and ∑NBFRs ranged ND-37 000 ng/g dw (median 2.0 ng/g dw). Concentrations in soils were found to be significantly negatively associated with distance from one of the e-waste facilities for ∑penta-BDEs, BDE-183, BDE-209, and ∑NBFR compound groups. ANOVA tests further illustrated the potential for e-waste recycling to significantly elevate concentrations of some BFRs in soils over distances up to 900 m compared to references sites. This study provides the first evidence of soil contamination with PBDEs and NBFRs originating from formal e-waste recycling facilities in Australia, which may have implications for e-waste recycling practices throughout the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J McGrath
- Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Remediation (EnSuRe), School of Science , RMIT University , GPO Box 2476, Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
| | - Paul D Morrison
- Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Remediation (EnSuRe), School of Science , RMIT University , GPO Box 2476, Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
- Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science (ACROSS), School of Science , RMIT University , GPO Box 2476, Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
| | - Andrew S Ball
- Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Remediation (EnSuRe), School of Science , RMIT University , GPO Box 2476, Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
| | - Bradley O Clarke
- Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Remediation (EnSuRe), School of Science , RMIT University , GPO Box 2476, Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
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Mitch WA. New Takes on Emerging Contaminants: Preface. J Environ Sci (China) 2017; 62:1-2. [PMID: 29289280 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2017.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- William A Mitch
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, USA
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