Organophosphate flame retardants, tetrabromobisphenol A, and their transformation products in sediment of e-waste dismantling areas and the flame-retardant production base

Peng Chen; Shengtao Ma; Yan Yang; Zenghua Qi; Yujie Wang; Guiying Li; Jianhui Tang; Yingxin Yu

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety (Dec 2021)

Organophosphate flame retardants, tetrabromobisphenol A, and their transformation products in sediment of e-waste dismantling areas and the flame-retardant production base

Peng Chen,
Shengtao Ma,
Yan Yang,
Zenghua Qi,
Yujie Wang,
Guiying Li,
Jianhui Tang,
Yingxin Yu

Affiliations

Peng Chen: Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Shengtao Ma: Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Synergy Innovation Institute of GDUT, Shantou 515041, China
Yan Yang: Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Synergy Innovation Institute of GDUT, Shantou 515041, China
Zenghua Qi: Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Yujie Wang: Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Guiying Li: Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Jianhui Tang: Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China
Yingxin Yu: Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Corresponding author at: Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 225
p. 112717

Abstract

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Due to the prohibition of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) have become emerging flame retardants. However, knowledge about their occurrence, especially their transformation products, is still limited. This study collected sediment samples from two rivers, i.e., Lianjiang River (located at an e-waste dismantling area) and Xiaoqing River (situated at a flame retardant production base), to investigate the occurrence, composition, and spatiality distribution of OPFRs, TBBPA, and their transformation products. Both targets were detected in the Lianjiang River in the range of 220–1.4 × 104 and 108–3.1 × 103 ng/g dw (dry weight) for OPFRs and TBBPA, and 0.11–2.35 and 4.8–414 ng/g dw for their respective transformation products, respectively. The concentrations of OPFRs and TBBPA in the Xiaoqing River ranged from 4.15 to 31.5 and 0.76–2.51 ng/g dw, respectively, and no transformation products were detected. Different compositional characteristics of OPFRs and distinct spatial distribution from mainstream and tributary observed between the two rivers are attributed to the difference in the local industries. Spatial distribution and principal component analysis indicated that e-waste dismantling activities could be a vital source of local pollution. Besides, the confluence of tributaries seemed to determine the contaminant levels in the Xiaoqing River. Also, concentration ratios and Spearman’s correlation between metabolites and parent chemicals were analyzed. Low concentration ratios (3.6 ×10–4 to 0.16) indicated a low transformation degree, and Spearman’s correlation analysis suggested transformation products were partly stemming from commercial products. Considering the limited study of these transformation products, more studies on their sources, transform mechanism, and toxicity are required.

Published in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

ISSN: 0147-6513 (Print); 1090-2414 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Technology: Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering: Environmental pollution; Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/ecotoxicology-and-environmental-safety

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