Brominated flame retardants in road dust and green belt soil from Harbin, China: Contamination characteristics, sources and health risks

Ye Zhang; Jin-Nong Li; Lin-Hui Zhang; Bo Meng; Yi-Fan Li; Hang Xiao; Kolodeznikov Vasiliy Egorovich; Petrova Natalia Nikolaevna; Zi-Feng Zhang; Zhong-Hua Tang

Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology (Jan 2024)

Brominated flame retardants in road dust and green belt soil from Harbin, China: Contamination characteristics, sources and health risks

Ye Zhang,
Jin-Nong Li,
Lin-Hui Zhang,
Bo Meng,
Yi-Fan Li,
Hang Xiao,
Kolodeznikov Vasiliy Egorovich,
Petrova Natalia Nikolaevna,
Zi-Feng Zhang,
Zhong-Hua Tang

Affiliations

Ye Zhang: College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Resource Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China; Key Laboratory of Forest Plant Ecology, Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Jin-Nong Li: College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Resource Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China; Key Laboratory of Forest Plant Ecology, Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Lin-Hui Zhang: International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China; International Joint Research Center for Arctic Environment and Ecosystem (IJRC-AEE), Polar Academy, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
Bo Meng: International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), Heilongjiang Cold Region Wetland Ecology and Environment Research Key Laboratory, Harbin University, Harbin 150086, China
Yi-Fan Li: International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China; International Joint Research Center for Arctic Environment and Ecosystem (IJRC-AEE), Polar Academy, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
Hang Xiao: Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
Kolodeznikov Vasiliy Egorovich: Institute of Natural Sciences, M.K. Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University, Yakutsk 677000, Russia
Petrova Natalia Nikolaevna: Institute of Natural Sciences, M.K. Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University, Yakutsk 677000, Russia
Zi-Feng Zhang: International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China; International Joint Research Center for Arctic Environment and Ecosystem (IJRC-AEE), Polar Academy, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China; Corresponding author at: Z.-F. Zhang, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, 73 Huanghe Road, Harbin 150090, Heilongjiang, China.
Zhong-Hua Tang: College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Resource Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China; Key Laboratory of Forest Plant Ecology, Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China; Corresponding author at: Z.-H. Tang, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Resource Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, 26 Hexing Road, Harbin 150040, Heilongjiang, China.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 6
pp. 229 – 235

Abstract

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Brominated flame retardants (BFRs), categorized as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are difficult to degrade, exhibiting reproductive toxicity and carcinogenicity. Exposure to dust and soil particles containing BFRs may cause various health problems. The research aimed to assess the concentrations, potential origins, and health risks associated with polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and novel BFRs (NBFRs) in road dust and green belt soil in Harbin. The study revealed that ΣPBDE concentrations ranging from 0.15 to 193.75 ng/g (median: 48.01 ng/g) in road dust and 8.07 to 195.33 ng/g (median: 38.19 ng/g) in green belt soil. Notably, TBBPA contributed the most to the ΣPBDEs concentrations. And the concentrations of ΣNBFRs ranged from 2.34 to 130.53 ng/g (median: 18.48 ng/g) in road dust and 2.50 to 46.70 ng/g (median: 7.85 ng/g) in green belt soil. And tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) was the most dominant compound in both samples. Highways exhibited lower ΣPBDE concentrations in dust samples but higher ΣNBFR concentrations in soil samples compared to other roads. Moreover, most of the BFRs had a positive correlation with each other, suggesting that they may have similar sources. Principal component analysis (PCA) suggested BFRs sources in road dust may come from wire, paint, building materials or commercial products, likewise, BFRs in green belt soil may come from household or industrial products. Health risk assessment indicated that BFRs in both types of samples in Harbin had no non-carcinogenic risk to residents. These findings provide valuable insights into understanding BFR pollution characteristics, identifying specific sources, and recognizing health hazards in dust and soil samples on roads from Harbin.

Published in Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology

ISSN: 2590-1826 (Online)
Publisher: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Technology: Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering
Website: https://www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/environmental-chemistry-and-ecotoxicology/

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