The reduction in the use of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) has opened the way for the introduction of "novel" BFRs (nBFRs) in place of the banned formulations. Important representatives of this group are decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy) ethane (BTBPE), hexabromobenzene (HBB), and pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB). Here, the contamination due to nBFRs, PBDEs, and HBCD has been investigated in the sediments from Lake Maggiore and its tributaries with the aim of characterizing in detail the possible presence of temporal trends and/or identifying potential sources of contamination. The positive correlation of DBDPE with BDE-209 confirmed the wide and important use of this compound in the Lake Maggiore basin and the hypothesis that this compound will soon become one of the most important nBFRs used in Northern Italy (figure below). Moreover, the spatial distribution and bioaccumulation potential of nBFRs, PBDEs, and HBCD in the Lake biota have been investigated in a littoral and a pelagic food web. With this purpose, the trophic level-adjusted BMFs (BMFTL) and the Trophic Magnification Factors (TMFs) of BFRs were calculated and compared to each other. Results showed that, despite the high concentrations measured in the sediments of Lake Maggiore, DBDPE was below the detection limit in all the considered biological samples, probably because of its high log Kow value (Log Kow = 11), which reduced the potential bioaccumulation in organisms. The calculated BMFs showed that tetra- and penta-BDE biomagnified, while octa-, nona-, and deca-BDE were still bioavailable and detectable in the fish muscles, but they do not biomagnified. Considering the other BFRs, only HBCD showed a moderate biomagnification potential. Finally, comparing the calculated values of BMFTL and TMF, a significant positive correlation was observed between the two factors, suggesting that the use of BMFTL to investigate the biomagnification potential of organic chemical compounds might be an appropriate approach when a simple food web is considered.
Novel Brominated Flame Retardant, PBDE and HBCD contamination in sediments and biota from Lake Maggiore (Northern Italy)
G Poma;L Guzzella;C Roscioli;P Volta
2015
Abstract
The reduction in the use of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) has opened the way for the introduction of "novel" BFRs (nBFRs) in place of the banned formulations. Important representatives of this group are decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy) ethane (BTBPE), hexabromobenzene (HBB), and pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB). Here, the contamination due to nBFRs, PBDEs, and HBCD has been investigated in the sediments from Lake Maggiore and its tributaries with the aim of characterizing in detail the possible presence of temporal trends and/or identifying potential sources of contamination. The positive correlation of DBDPE with BDE-209 confirmed the wide and important use of this compound in the Lake Maggiore basin and the hypothesis that this compound will soon become one of the most important nBFRs used in Northern Italy (figure below). Moreover, the spatial distribution and bioaccumulation potential of nBFRs, PBDEs, and HBCD in the Lake biota have been investigated in a littoral and a pelagic food web. With this purpose, the trophic level-adjusted BMFs (BMFTL) and the Trophic Magnification Factors (TMFs) of BFRs were calculated and compared to each other. Results showed that, despite the high concentrations measured in the sediments of Lake Maggiore, DBDPE was below the detection limit in all the considered biological samples, probably because of its high log Kow value (Log Kow = 11), which reduced the potential bioaccumulation in organisms. The calculated BMFs showed that tetra- and penta-BDE biomagnified, while octa-, nona-, and deca-BDE were still bioavailable and detectable in the fish muscles, but they do not biomagnified. Considering the other BFRs, only HBCD showed a moderate biomagnification potential. Finally, comparing the calculated values of BMFTL and TMF, a significant positive correlation was observed between the two factors, suggesting that the use of BMFTL to investigate the biomagnification potential of organic chemical compounds might be an appropriate approach when a simple food web is considered.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
