Bioaccumulation of Persistent Halogenated Organic Pollutants in Insects: Common Alterations to the Pollutant Pattern for Different Insects during Metamorphosis.

Few studies have examined the accumulation and fate of persistent halogenated organic pollutants (HOPs) in insects. We measured HOPs, including dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), polychlorinated biphenyls, and halogenated flame retardants, in insects from four taxonomic groups collected from an e-waste site. Dragonfly larvae collected from a pond contained the highest concentrations of all chemicals except DDTs, while the litchi stinkbugs contained the lowest.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Human Hair and Serum from E-Waste Recycling Workers in Southern China: Concentrations, Chiral Signatures, Correlations, and Source Identification.

Hair is increasingly used as a biomarker for human exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs). However, the internal and external sources of hair POPs remain a controversial issue. This study analyzed polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in human hair and serum from electronic waste recycling workers.

Organohalogen contamination in passerine birds from three metropolises in China: geographical variation and its implication for anthropogenic effects on urban environments.

Contamination of organohalogen pollutants (OHPs), including dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), decabromodiphenylethane (DBDPE), hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs), and dechlorane plus (DP) in three metropolises of China, Beijing, Wuhan, and Guangzhou, and a reference rural site were determined using terrestrial residential passerine species as bioindicator. DDTs dominated in Wuhan whereas flame retardants dominated in Guangzhou and Beijing. No geographical variation was found for PCB levels but it exhibited different homologue profiles among different sites which could be attributed to different dietary sources of birds.

Diasteroisomer and enantiomer-specific profiles of hexabromocyclododecane and tetrabromobisphenol A in an aquatic environment in a highly industrialized area, South China: vertical profile, phase partition, and bioaccumulation.

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) were determined in water, sediments, sediment cores, and three fish species from a river running through a highly industrialized area in South China. TBBPA concentrations exceeded those of HBCDs in the sediment and the dissolved phase of water and its levels in fish were at the high end of worldwide figures. 26% of HBCDs and 99% of TBBPA were found in dissolved phase of water.

Using compound-specific stable carbon isotope analysis to trace metabolism and trophic transfer of PCBs and PBDEs in fish from an e-waste site, South China.

Two fish species (mud carp and northern snakehead) forming a predator/prey relationship and sediment samples were collected from a pond contaminated by e-waste. The concentrations and stable carbon isotope ratios (δ(13)C) of individual polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners were measured to determine if compound-specific carbon isotope analysis (CSIA) could be used to provide insight into the metabolism and trophic dynamics of PCBs and PBDEs. Significant correlations were found in the isotopic data of PCB congeners between the sediment and the fish species and between the two fish indicating identical origin of PCBs in sediment and fish.

Tissue accumulation and species-specific metabolism of technical pentabrominated diphenyl ether (DE-71) in two predator fish.

The tissue-specific accumulation and species-specific metabolism of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in two predator fish species (redtail catfish and oscar fish) feeding on the same prey (tiger barb) that was exposed to technical pentabrominated diphenyl ether (DE-71) in the laboratory were investigated. The trends in the wet-weight tissue concentration of PBDEs in two predatory fish species suggested that the tissue distribution of PBDEs occurs through a series of events involving passive diffusion to the lipid compartment. A comparison of the fugacities of PBDEs in various tissues and in the serum revealed that the liver, gill, and perivisceral adipose tissue readily achieved equilibrium with the serum, but the muscle, kidney, and intestine exhibited the potential to accumulate PBDEs.

Dechlorane Plus in serum from e-waste recycling workers: influence of gender and potential isomer-specific metabolism.

Dechlorane Plus (DP) and its dechlorinated product, anti-Cl₁₁-DP, were measured in serum of 70 occupationally exposed workers in an e-waste recycling region and 13 residents of an urban area in South China. The DP levels were significantly higher in the workers (22-2200 ng/g with median of 150 ng/g lipid) than in the urban residents (2.7-91 ng/g with median of 4.

[Horizontal and vertical distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in river sediment from a typical electrical equipment industrial area].

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were determined in sediment collected from a river in a typical electrical equipment industrial area, Ronggui, Foshan. Eight samples were collected from river sediment. The results indicated that PBDEs were presented in all samples.

[Concentration and emission fluxes of halogenated flame retardants in sewage from sewage outlet in Dongjiang River].

Fourteen sewage samples from sewage outlets in Dongjiang River were collected. Halogented flame retardants were extracted and purified using dichloromethane and alumina/silica-gel column, respectively. The concentrations of halogenated flame retardants were measured utilizing GC/MS, and the emission fluxes were estimated.

Gastrointestinal absorption, metabolic debromination, and hydroxylation of three commercial polybrominated diphenyl ether mixtures by common carp.

The gastrointestinal absorption, metabolic debromination, and hydroxylation of three commercial brominated diphenyl ether (BDE) mixtures were separately studied in juvenile common carp. The absorption rate of penta-BDE was higher than that of octa- and deca-BDE, likely because of the lower molecular volumes of its major congeners. However, no significantly positive relationships were found between the number of bromine atoms and the absorption rate, especially for congeners with a bromine atom number larger than six.

Biomagnification of higher brominated PBDE congeners in an urban terrestrial food web in north China based on field observation of prey deliveries.

As an important group of brominated flame retardants, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) persist in the wildlife food webs. However, the biomagnification of PBDEs has not been adequately studied in the terrestrial food webs. In this study, a terrestrial food web composed of common kestrels, sparrows, rats, grasshoppers, and dragonflies in the urban environment from northern China was obtained.

Bioaccumulation of several brominated flame retardants and dechlorane plus in waterbirds from an e-waste recycling region in South China: associated with trophic level and diet sources.

The present study is primarily designed to examine the role played by dietary sources on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) congener profiles in waterbirds collected in an e-waste recycling region in South China. Some emerging halogenated flame retardants (HFRs), such as dechlorane plus (DP), 2,3,4,5,6-pentabromoethyl benzene (PBEB), pentabromotoluene (PBT), and 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane (BTBPE), were also quantified. Stable isotopes (δ(15)N and δ(13)C) were analyzed to assess the trophic levels and dietary sources of the birds.

Tetrabromobisphenol-A and hexabromocyclododecane in birds from an e-waste region in South China: influence of diet on diastereoisomer- and enantiomer-specific distribution and trophodynamics.

Tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA) and three diastereomers of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) were examined in the muscles of six bird species and their diet collected from an e-waste recycling region (Qingyuan) in South China. Stable isotope ratios (delta15N and delta13C) were analyzed to measure the diet source and trophic levels (TLs) of the birds. The median TBBPA and HBCD concentrations in the birds ranged from 28 to 173 and not detectable to 1995 ng/g lipid weight, respectively.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyles (PCBs), hydroxylated and methoxylated-PBDEs, and methylsulfonyl-PCBs in bird serum from South China.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and their derivatives, hydroxylated (OH) and methoxylated (MeO) PBDEs and methylsulfonylated (MeSO(2)) PCBs, were measured in sera of eight bird species collected from an e-waste recycling region in South China. Concentrations of summation operatorPCBs, ranging from 38 to 1700 ng/g lipid weight (lw), were one to two orders of magnitude higher than concentrations of summation operatorPBDEs (0.64-580 ng/g lw).