PBDEs in European Background Soils:  Levels and Factors Controlling Their Distribution

• Published in: Environmental science & technology 2004-02, Vol.38 (3), p.738-745
• Main Authors: Hassanin, Ashraf, Breivik, Knut, Meijer, Sandra N., Steinnes, Eiliv, Thomas, Gareth O., Jones, Kevin C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - analysis; Applied sciences; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Ecosystem; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environmental impact; Environmental Monitoring; Ethers; Europe; Exact sciences and technology; flame retardants; Organic chemicals; PCB; Poaceae; pollutants; Pollution; Pollution sources. Measurement results; Pollution, environment geology; Polybrominated Biphenyls - analysis; Polybrominated diphenyl ethers; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Reference Values; soil; Soil and sediments pollution; Soil contaminants; Soil Pollutants - analysis; soil pollution; Studies; Trees
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es035008y

Surface soils (0−5 cm) from remote/rural woodland (coniferous and deciduous) and grassland locations on a latitudinal transect through the United Kingdom and Norway were analyzed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Concentrations ranged between 65 and 12 000 ∑ALLPBDE ng kg-1 dry weight. PBDE-47, -99, -100, -153, and -154the major constituents of the penta-BDE technical productdominated the average congener pattern of the soils. Indeed, the average congener composition and distribution measured in these European background soils closely matched that reported in the technical penta-BDE product. This is interpreted as evidence that transfer of the congeners present in penta-BDE-treated products from source−air−soil occurs with broadly similar efficiency, perhaps because there has been little weathering/degradation/alteration of the congener source pattern by processes operating during atmospheric transport or within the soil itself. BDE-183, a marker for the octa-BDE mix, was detected at concentrations ranging from