Untargeted Screening and Distribution of Organo-Bromine Compounds in Sediments of Lake Michigan

Environ Sci Technol. 2016 Jan 5;50(1):321-30. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5b04709. Epub 2015 Dec 14.

Abstract

Previously unreported natural and synthetic organo-bromine compounds (NSOBCs) have been found to contribute more than 99% of total organic bromine (TOB) in environmental matrices. We recently developed a novel untargeted method (data-independent precursor isolation and characteristic fragment, DIPIC-Frag) and identified ∼2000 NSOBCs in two sediments from Lake Michigan. In this study, this method was used to investigate the distributions of these NSOBCs in 23 surficial samples and 24 segments of a sediment core from Lake Michigan. NSOBCs were detected in all 23 surficial samples and exhibited 10- to 100-fold variations in peak abundance among locations. The pattern of distributions of NSOBCs was correlated with depth of the water column (r(2) = 0.61, p < 0.001). Hierarchical cluster analysis showed that sediments in close proximity exhibited similar profiles of NSOBCs. Distributions of NSOBCs in 24 segments of a sediment core dated from 1766 to 2008 were investigated, and samples from similar depths exhibited similar profiles of NSOBCs. NSOBCs were grouped into four clusters (soft-cluster analysis) with different temporal trends of abundances. 515 and 768 of the NSOBCs were grouped into cluster 1 and cluster 3 with increasing temporal trends, especially since 1950, indicating that abundances of these compounds might have been affected by human activities.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Bromine Compounds / analysis*
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods
  • Geologic Sediments / chemistry*
  • Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / analysis*
  • Hydrocarbons, Brominated / analysis*
  • Lakes / chemistry*
  • Michigan
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*

Substances

  • Bromine Compounds
  • Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers
  • Hydrocarbons, Brominated
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical