A semiquantitative high-resolution mass spectrometry method was developed and applied to assess the occurrence of bromo-/chloro paraffins (BCPs) and olefins (BCOs) in the environment. More than 400 possible BCPs and BCO congener groups were detected in dust, air, and sewage sludge samples collected from Australia. Median chain analytes with the number of halogen atoms <7 (CnHmClxBry, 14 ≤ n ≤ 17, x + y < 7) prevailed in the dust and sludge samples, while short chain analytes (CnHmClxBry, 10 ≤ n ≤ 13, x + y < 7) predominated the air samples. The estimated concentrations of ∑BCPs and ∑BCOs in dust and sludge were approximately 20% that of the chlorinated paraffins (CPs) present, with the median concentrations of 5.4 μg/g (dust) and 0.18 μg/g (sludge) for ∑BCPs and 22 μg/g (in dust) and 0.50 μg/g (sludge) for BCOs. In the air samples, the concentrations of BCPs (0.020 pg/m3) and BCOs (0.032 pg/m3) were 3-4 orders of magnitudes lower than the concentrations of CPs (790 pg/m3). Significant correlations (P < 0.001) were found between the concentration of CPs, BCPs, and BCOs in all the matrices.
Keywords: Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs); atmosphere; dust; sludge; α-bromo-chloro alkenes.