Spatial and Temporal Trends of Dissolved Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers and Non-BDE Flame Retardants in the Aquatic Environment across Countries

Measuring dissolved concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and non-BDE flame retardants on a global scale provides critical insights into the effectiveness of the Stockholm Convention. In the present study, we deployed passive sampling devices at 43 seawater and freshwater sites covering 21 countries from 2016 to 2020. The detection frequencies were 20-94% for BDE congeners and 33-42% for dechlorane plus, higher than those (0-20%) for other target compounds. The median concentrations of dissolved Σ<sub>9</sub>PBDE (sum of BDE-28, -47, -66, -85, -99, -100, -153, -154, and -183) were 0.28 and 0.64 pg L<sup>-1</sup> in seawater and freshwater, respectively. The concentrations of dissolved Σ<sub>9</sub>PBDE, along with published data, slightly increased before 2016 and remained steady from 2016 to 2018, indicating delayed effects of the global phaseout of technical Penta- and Octa-BDEs. The log-transformed concentrations of individual BDE congeners were better correlated with regional gross domestic product than with population density. The potential ecological risk of BDE-47 was low, and there was a lack of key risk indicators for other compounds. The present study documented the delayed response of the aquatic environment to the regulatory actions on reducing PBDE emissions.

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Publication Details

Journal
Environmental Science & Technology
Published
2025-10-31
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c11506
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.20
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article

Spatial and Temporal Trends of Dissolved Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers and Non-BDE Flame Retardants in the Aquatic Environment across Countries

Brendan McHugh, Nicolas Estoppey, Peleg Astrahan, Gilberto Fillmann et al.
1 citations
Environmental Science & Technology
Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
1.20
article

Spatial and Temporal Trends of Dissolved Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers and Non-BDE Flame Retardants in the Aquatic Environment across Countries

Brendan McHugh, Nicolas Estoppey, Peleg Astrahan, Gilberto Fillmann, Derek C. G. Muir, Terry F. Bidleman, Lian‐Jun Bao, Foppe Smedes, Mats Tysklind, Jaromír Sobotka, Raimon M. Prats, Ian Allan, Rebecca Sutton, Brent Newman, Rainer Lohmann, Sarit Kaserzon, Keith A. Maruya, Branislav Vrana, Eddy Yongping Zeng, Denis Crowley, Liisa M. Jantunen, Manolis Tsapakis, Charles S. Wong, Evgen Dykyi, Barend L. van Drooge
article en
1 citations

Abstract

Measuring dissolved concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and non-BDE flame retardants on a global scale provides critical insights into the effectiveness of the Stockholm Convention. In the present study, we deployed passive sampling devices at 43 seawater and freshwater sites covering 21 countries from 2016 to 2020. The detection frequencies were 20-94% for BDE congeners and 33-42% for dechlorane plus, higher than those (0-20%) for other target compounds. The median concentrations of dissolved Σ<sub>9</sub>PBDE (sum of BDE-28, -47, -66, -85, -99, -100, -153, -154, and -183) were 0.28 and 0.64 pg L<sup>-1</sup> in seawater and freshwater, respectively. The concentrations of dissolved Σ<sub>9</sub>PBDE, along with published data, slightly increased before 2016 and remained steady from 2016 to 2018, indicating delayed effects of the global phaseout of technical Penta- and Octa-BDEs. The log-transformed concentrations of individual BDE congeners were better correlated with regional gross domestic product than with population density. The potential ecological risk of BDE-47 was low, and there was a lack of key risk indicators for other compounds. The present study documented the delayed response of the aquatic environment to the regulatory actions on reducing PBDE emissions.

Environmental Science & TechnologyVol. 59(45)
Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (US), Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NO), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (BR), Environment and Climate Change Canada (CA), Jinan University (CN), The University of Queensland (AU), University of Rhode Island (US), Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway (IE), Masaryk University (CZ), Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NO), State Institution National Antarctic Scientific Center (UA), San Francisco Estuary Institute (US), Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (GR), Institute of Marine and Coastal Research (AR), Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (ES), Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research (IL), Marine Institute (IE), Institute of Oceanography, Umeå University (SE), South China University of Technology (CN), University of KwaZulu-Natal (ZA), University of Lausanne (CH), Nelson Mandela University (ZA)
Openalex Percentile: Top 17%
Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
1.20
DOISourceOpenAlex
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