[Horizontal and vertical distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in river sediment from a typical electrical equipment industrial area].

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were determined in sediment collected from a river in a typical electrical equipment industrial area, Ronggui, Foshan. Eight samples were collected from river sediment. The results indicated that PBDEs were presented in all samples. Spatial trends showed that the concentrations of PBDEs in all sediment samples were ranged from 62 ng x g(-1) to 349 ng x g(-1), with an average of 178 ng x g(-1). The predominant congener was BDE-209 (90% - 99%), which ranged from 56-337 ng x g(-1), with an average of 171 ng x g(-1). Some of congeners such as BDE-196, 197 and 203 may be were the degradation product of BDE-209. Vertically, the concentrations of PBDEs were increased with the depth, whereas the concentrations were 147 ng x g(-1) in layer 0-10 cm and 260 ng x g(-1) in layer 30-40 cm, respectively. Distribution profile of PBDEs in vertical direction was similar in different depths. The commercial deca-BDE (94%), which contained BDE-209, 208, 207 and 206, was the dominate pollutant with minor contributions from penta-and octa-BDEs. The results suggested that this area was polluted by PBDEs and BDE-209 was the most dominate congener, which is related with the manufacturing activities for electrical equipment.

[Characteristics of polychlorinated biphenyls in soils from an electronic waste recycling area].

The concentrations of 144 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the soils from Luqiao were analyzed by GC-microECD. The objectives of this study were to understand the contents, spatial distribution and sources. The sigma PCBs concentrations in soils samples were in the range of 0.779 ng x g(-1) to 937 ng x g(-1), with a mean of 75.7 ng x g(-1), and the relatively high level of PCBs were mainly distributed in the south central area. Penta-CBs, hexa-CBs and tetra-CBs were the primary homologues in 38 samples, with the range of 13.0% - 61.1%, 4.59% - 48.8% and 10.1% - 31.5%, respectively. Di-CBs was the most predominant homologues in other samples, with the range of 47.1% - 75.2%. The hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) showed that most of samples were mainly polluted by Ar1254, few samples were polluted by Ar1221. Significant correlations were observed between sigma PCBs and TOC, which suggested PCBs were affected by TOC in soils. The correlation analysis also showed significant correlation among the PCBs homologues (except di-CBs and nona-CBs), which suggested PCBs might have the similar sources. Compared to other studies from different countries and regions, the PCBs concentrations in the present study were at an upper-middle level.

[A novel class of environmental contaminants: hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OH-PBDEs)].

As a novel class of organic pollutants, OH-PBDEs are becoming a new research topic. Recently, OH-PBDEs correlated with their bioaccumulation and toxic effects have been found in various environmental matrices. This paper reviews recent researches about the source, determination, exposure level, toxicological effects and transformation pathways of OH-PBDEs. Furthermore, the recommendations for further research about OH-PBDEs are also proposed in this paper.