[PBDEs in sediments from 14 principal tributaries of Haihe River and their potential risk]

Violent disturbance are occurring in Haihe River basin due to a large number of human activities. To investigate the PBDEs pollution status and their distribution character, 48 surface sediment samples (at the top 0-5 cm layer) were collected from 14 principal tributaries in Haihe River basin. The contents of 27 PBDEs congeners in sediments were measured using Varian CP3800/300 GC-MS/ MS technique. The measured level of PBDEs ranged from 0.06 to 2.10 ng g(-1), the highest concentrations of PBDEs were detected in the sediment samples from Tuhai River, with geometric mean 2.10 ng x g(-1). BDE184, 207, 197, 191, 183 and 156 were the most predominant PBDE congeners, with their concentrations accounting for 40% of the total PBDEs concentration observed in the samples. Whereas BDE15, 28 and 47 were the primary PBDE congeners in the sediments from other rivers, with their concentration accounted for over 22% of the total PBDEs concentration. The PBDEs levels monitored in the present study were compared to those reported recently for districts located in other countries. The concentrations of PBDEs in the sediment samples were in the same order of magnitude of those reported on background levels in remote lakes sediment in European and American countries, which shows low-level PBDEs contamination in sediments.