New halogenated flame retardants in the atmosphere of nine urban areas in China: Pollution characteristics, source analysis and variation trends

Qilu Li; Kong Yang; Kechang Li; Xin Liu; Duohong Chen; Jun Li; Gan Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2017.02.052

New halogenated flame retardants in the atmosphere of nine urban areas in China: Pollution characteristics, source analysis and variation trends

Environ Pollut. 2017 May:224:679-688. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.02.052. Epub 2017 Feb 28.

Authors

Qilu Li¹, Kong Yang², Kechang Li³, Xin Liu³, Duohong Chen⁴, Jun Li⁵, Gan Zhang³

Affiliations

¹ School of Environment, Henan Normal University, Key Laboratory for Yellow River and Huai River Water Environment and Pollution Control, Ministry of Education, Henan Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Control, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China.
² School of Environment, Henan Normal University, Key Laboratory for Yellow River and Huai River Water Environment and Pollution Control, Ministry of Education, Henan Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Control, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, PR China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China.
⁴ Guangdong Environmental Monitoring Center, Guangzhou 510308, China.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China. Electronic address: junli@gig.ac.cn.

PMID: 28258858
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.02.052

Abstract

Since the ban of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) excluding deca-BDE in China, new halogenated flame retardants (NHFRs), such as new brominated flame retardants and Dechlorane Plus, have become widely used. In this study, we assessed the atmospheric gaseous and particulate levels of eight NHFRs in nine urban areas in China. We detected high mean atmospheric (vapour plus particle phases) concentrations of tetrabromophthalate (TBPH) (74.8 pg m^-3) and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) (68.8 pg m^-3), two major NHFRs. Most of the gaseous and particulate NHFR concentrations presented seasonal variations (from summer to autumn), possibly driven by temperature. Spatially, concentrations and patterns of the NHFRs differed among the nine cities. Significantly higher concentrations were detected in cities with higher gross domestic products. The composition, especially the DBDPE/TBPH ratio (S), were clearly different among the cities, which pattern in each city are likely driven by variations in the type of industries operating in each city. Based on the temporal analysis of other researches and our data, PBDE levels have decreased markedly, while NHFRs levels have increased. Since high NHFR levels had detrimental effects on public health, NHFRs research warrants more attention.

Keywords: Atmosphere; New halogenated flame retardants; Pollution characteristics; Source analysis; Variation trend.

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants / analysis*
Air Pollutants / chemistry*
Atmosphere / analysis*
Atmosphere / chemistry*
China
Cities
Environmental Monitoring
Environmental Pollution / analysis*
Flame Retardants / analysis*
Halogenation
Phthalic Acids / analysis*
Seasons

Substances

Air Pollutants
Flame Retardants
Phthalic Acids