Due to the worldwide phase-out of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), several brominated flame retardants (BFRs), such as 1,2,5,6,9,10-hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and 1,2-dibromo-4-(1,2-dibromoethyl)cyclohexane (DBE-DBCH), have been mainly used as replacements for PBDEs in insulation products. Information on occurrence of these emerging BFRs in the environment, especially DBE-DBCH, is very limited. Little is known about the distribtuion and fate of HBCD and DBE-DBCH in marine environment of China. The present study aims to investigate the stereo-selective behaviours of HBCD and BDE-DBCH in sediment and marine organisms, from the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) in South China Sea. Using specific columns for chiral separation, coupled with GC-MS and UPLC-MS/MS for quantification of α-, β-, γ- and δ-DBE-DBCH enantiomers, as well as α-, β- and γ-HBCD enantiomers and δ- and ε-HBCD meso-stereoisomers, were analyzed in these samples (Figure 1). Samples were extracted by accelerated solvent extraction, cleaned up by gel permeation chromatography (except for the sediment samples), and futher purified by packed columns with silica gel and alumina. Due to large demand for these chemicals, increasing consumption of certain PBDE alternatives has taken place in the PRE over the past decades, which has been confirmed by our previous studies. Results of HBCD and BDE-DBCH stereoisomers in marine organisms (mainly focused on preys of cetaceans) and sediment from the same investigated area will be evaluated for the bioaccumulation / biomagnification patterns of these chemicals in the estuarine food web.

Stereoisomer-specific distribtuion of 1,2,5,6,9,10-hexabromocyclododecane and 1,2-dibromo-4-(1,2-dibromoethyl)cyclohexane in sediment and marine organisms from the South China Sea

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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