Association of ethylene dibromide (EDB) with mature cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) fruit

Ethylene dibromide (EDB), a potential carcinogen, has been used in gasoline mixtures to avoid the accumulation of metallic lead in engines. Ethylene dibromide is present in the environment and in groundwater. Previous analysis has shown that EDB levels have reached up to 16 microg L-1 in the groundwater at two fuel spill plumes in the vicinity of the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR) Base and up to 1.69 microg L-1 in the Coonamessett and Quashnet Rivers in Cape Cod, MA (U.S. Air Force IRP, Fact Sheet #98-10, 1998). Groundwater and river water from this area are used to flood some local cranberry bogs for irrigation and harvesting of cranberry fruits. The potential sorption of EDB by cranberry fruits during harvest has caused concern but information regarding its occurrence is not available. In this study, low levels of EDB (0.04-0.15 microg kg-1) were found to be associated with cranberry fruits that were exposed to EDB at levels ranging from 3 to 12 microg L-1 at 10, 20, and 30 degrees C for up to 7 days. Rinsing EDB-exposed cranberry fruits twice with deionized water or once with 0.01 M NaCl solution reduced the amount of EDB associated with the cranberry fruits by 65-72% to a level of 0.02 microg kg-1. Therefore, the EDB most likely is associated with the water residue on the surface of the cranberry fruit rather than being absorbed into the flesh of the fruit during the EDB exposure.