Effect of polybrominated diphenyl ethers on sand-bentonite liner material.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are present in biosolids and other solid wastes, as well as being detected in landfill leachates. As sand-bentonite mixtures are extensively used as basal liner materials for landfills, a sand-bentonite mixture was investigated by swelling tests and leaching column tests to determine whether it can effectively contain and/or immobilize PBDEs in landfill leachate. Leaching column tests were conducted with permeants consisting of biosolids' leachates diluted to 50% by volume and spiked with 50 μg/mL of a pentaBDE mixture solution.

Review of contamination of sewage sludge and amended soils by polybrominated diphenyl ethers based on meta-analysis.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are still present in sewage sludge and sludge-amended soil, even though commercial PBDEs were prohibited or voluntarily phased out several years ago. In this study, levels and compositional profiles of seven major PBDE congeners in sludge are assessed in relation to their usage patterns in commercial products, and years of being banned and phased out in North America, Europe, and Asia. Annual accumulations and future long-term changes of PBDE in sludge-amended soil are estimated.

Migration of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in biosolids-amended soil.

A field investigation was carried out to determine PBDE concentrations over a one-year period in agricultural soils onto which 80 tonnes biosolids/hectare had been applied. The PBDE concentrations increased from 80 to 300 pg/g dry weight basis to 300 × 10(3)-600 × 10(3) pg/g dw due to biosolids application, and PBDEs migrated downwards to depths of at least 0.85 m.