Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) in blood of children in Baden-Württemberg between 2002/03 and 2008/09

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) are used in high amounts as flame retardants in plastic materials and textiles. Due to their persistence, their accumulation in the food chain and their toxic properties they have been integrated in the human biomonitoring program of the Baden-Württemberg State Health Office since 2002. In repeated cross-sectional studies in winter 2002/03 (n=162), 2004/05 (n=194), 2005/06 (n=411) and 2008/09 (n=770) blood samples of 9-11-year-old pupils were taken, pooled and analysed for PBDE after extraction and purification by silica gel using HRGC/HRMS. Samples were pooled according to region, gender, and breast feeding. PBDE in the pooled samples ranged from 1.9 to 12.5 ng/g blood fat (sum of all PBDE). Mean concentrations of PBDE, calculated for the four investigation periods, were 6.2 ng/g (2002/03), 5.4 ng/g (2004/05), 7.8 ng/g (2005/06) and 6.7 ng/g (2008/09). While the concentration of the decabrominated diphenyl ether (BDE-209) increased, the concentration of other congeners (BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153, BDE-154, BDE-183) decreased slightly or remained at the same level. Consistent differences with respect to gender and breast-feeding were not recognizable. Concentrations of PBDE in children range on the same level as in adults and do not seem to be critical from the toxicological point of view. Because of the slight increase of BDE 209, the internal concentrations of BDE should be monitored in the future. The strong variations in PBDE concentration between the different pooled samples indicate that, apart from ingestion, other routes of exposure (dermal, inhalation) and additional sources (textiles, building materials) must be taken into consideration.

Levels and distributions of PBDEs and PCBs in sediments of the Bohai Sea, North China

Fifty-four surface sediments covering the whole water body of the Bohai Sea in North China were collected and analyzed for PBDEs and PCBs, to acquire information about their levels, distributions and possible sources. The results show that BDE 209 is the predominant congener with a mean value of 7000 pg g(-1) dry weight, two orders of magnitude higher than other BDE congeners. The concentrations of SigmaPBDE(7) (including BDE 28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154 and 183) range from 220 to 900 pg g(-1) dw. Significant correlations were found between BDE congeners and total organic content (TOC) (r(2) = 0.48-0.73). Pearson analysis shows that most tri- to hepta-BDE congeners were closely correlated (r(2) > 0.69). Congener patterns varied little among most of the samples and all the detected BDE congeners make a relatively equal mass contribution to SigmaPBDE(7). Such a profile is notably different from any of the BDE commercial products. As for PCBs, only a few congeners were detected in certain samples. They ranged from nd-610 pg g(-1) dw with a mean value of 145 pg g(-1) dw, at the lower end of the range reported in remote areas of Europe and North America. The overall burdens of SigmaPBDE(7) and BDE 209 within the upper 3 cm sediment layer were estimated to be 0.95-1.25 t and 11-19 t respectively. The latter accounts for about 0.008-0.014% of total BDE 209 produced in China from 1999 to 2006.