INVESTIGATION ON POLLUTION STATUS OF DECABROMODIPHENYL ETHER AND DECABROMODIPHENYL ETHANE IN HANOI URBAN SETTLED DUST AND SEDIMENT SAMPLES

Abstract

Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) are brominated flame retardants (BFRs), but they have been considered as persistent toxic substances. Information about their occurrence in Vietnamese environment are still limited. In order to evaluate pollution status of these BFRs in both terrestrial and aquatic environments, in this study, concentrations of BDE-209 and DBDPE were measured in settled dust and sediment samples collected from urban areas of Hanoi by using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method. BDE-209 and DBDPE were detected in all the samples with concentrations ranging from 0.68 to 53 and from 0.11 to 73 ng/g, respectively. Levels of these compounds were higher in road dust and river sediment samples than those in lake sediment samples. BDE-209 and DBDPE concentrations exhibited significant correlation (Spearman ρ = 0.734; p < 0.05), suggesting their similar environmental behavior and/or emission sources, and the role of DBDPE as replacement for legacy BFRs like BDE-209.