Comparison of the extractability of organophosphorus flame retardants in landfill media using organic and green solvents.

Organic solvents are mainly used in the extraction of organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) because of their availability and having been tested as good extracting solvents for most environmental pollutants. However, organic solvents are toxic, flammable, and costly. Hence, there is an ongoing quest for less hazardous chemicals such as green deep eutectic solvents (DES) that are cheap, recyclable, non-toxic and degradable in the environment, which can be used to extract organic pollutants such as OPFRs in environmental samples.

Targeted and non-target screening of persistent organic pollutants and organophosphorus flame retardants in leachate and sediment from landfill sites in Gauteng Province, South Africa.

In the present study, target analysis and a non-target screening method were employed to investigate the degree of contamination of landfill sediment and leachate in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorinated pesticides (OCPs) and organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) were extracted from sediment and leachate samples using solid-liquid extraction and liquid-liquid extraction methods, respectively; and analysed by target analysis using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Targeted PBDEs were all detected in sediment samples.

Levels, distributions, and ecological risk assessments of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and alternative flame retardants in river sediments from Vaal River, South Africa.

Sediments are known to be the ultimate sink for most pollutants in the aquatic environment. In this study, the concentrations of both legacy polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and alternative halogenated flame retardants (AHFRs) were measured in sediments samples from the Vaal River catchment. The concentrations of ΣBDE-congeners ranged from 20 to 78 ng g dry weight (dw) with BDE-209, -99, and -153 as the dominant congeners.

Influence of physicochemical and chemical parameters on polybrominated diphenyl ethers in selected landfill leachates, sediments and river sediments from Gauteng, South Africa.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are known to be persistent, endocrine disruptors and bioaccumulative and can cause adverse health effects in animals and humans. In this study, river and landfill sediment samples were collected from selected rivers and municipal solid waste landfill (MSWL) sites across Gauteng Province in South Africa to determine the levels of common PBDEs (BDE-17, BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153, BDE-154, BDE-183 and BDE-209). The mean and median concentrations of Σ8 PBDEs from river sediment samples was 2.