Quantification of Hydroxylated Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (OH-BDEs), Triclosan, and Related Compounds in Freshwater and Coastal Systems

PLoS One. 2015 Oct 14;10(10):e0138805. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138805. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OH-BDEs) are a new class of contaminants of emerging concern, but the relative roles of natural and anthropogenic sources remain uncertain. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are used as brominated flame retardants, and they are a potential source of OH-BDEs via oxidative transformations. OH-BDEs are also natural products in marine systems. In this study, OH-BDEs were measured in water and sediment of freshwater and coastal systems along with the anthropogenic wastewater-marker compound triclosan and its photoproduct dioxin, 2,8-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. The 6-OH-BDE 47 congener and its brominated dioxin (1,3,7-tribromodibenzo-p-dioxin) photoproduct were the only OH-BDE and brominated dioxin detected in surface sediments from San Francisco Bay, the anthropogenically impacted coastal site, where levels increased along a north-south gradient. Triclosan, 6-OH-BDE 47, 6-OH-BDE 90, 6-OH-BDE 99, and (only once) 6'-OH-BDE 100 were detected in two sediment cores from San Francisco Bay. The occurrence of 6-OH-BDE 47 and 1,3,7-tribromodibenzo-p-dioxin sediments in Point Reyes National Seashore, a marine system with limited anthropogenic impact, was generally lower than in San Francisco Bay surface sediments. OH-BDEs were not detected in freshwater lakes. The spatial and temporal trends of triclosan, 2,8-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, OH-BDEs, and brominated dioxins observed in this study suggest that the dominant source of OH-BDEs in these systems is likely natural production, but their occurrence may be enhanced in San Francisco Bay by anthropogenic activities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Dioxins / isolation & purification
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Environmental Pollution / analysis*
  • Flame Retardants / isolation & purification
  • Fresh Water / chemistry*
  • Geologic Sediments / chemistry*
  • Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Polybrominated Biphenyls / isolation & purification
  • San Francisco
  • Seawater / chemistry*
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry
  • Triclosan / isolation & purification
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / isolation & purification*

Substances

  • 6-OH-BDE-47
  • Dioxins
  • Flame Retardants
  • Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers
  • Polybrominated Biphenyls
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Triclosan
  • 2,8-dichlorodibenzo-4-dioxin

Grants and funding

Funding was provided by the U.S. National Science Foundation, Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems 0967163 to WAA with subcontracts to DRE and DY. CS (Pace Analytical) conducted dioxin analyses on a fee per sample basis. Pace Analytical provided support in the form of salaries for authors [CS] but had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.