[Analysis of ecological risk and the content situation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in sediments from Northeast...

To investigate the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) pollution status, sediment samples were collected from major rivers in northeast China. Contents of 41 PBDEs congeners in sediments were measured using GC-NCI-MS. BDE209 was not detected, measured level of total PBDEs (excluding BDE209) ranged from 0.91 to 17.67 ng.g-1 dry weight, the highest concentrations of PBDEs were detected in the sediment samples from upstream and downstream of Jilin City in the Second Songhua River Basin, with 15.86 and 17.67 ng.g-1. BDE207 and BDE47 were the predominant PBDE congeners, with their concentrations accounting for 86. 5% and 76. 6% of the total PBDEs concentration measured in the samples. Each congener content difference was not obvious in other river sediments. PBDEs levels monitored in the present study were compared to those reported recently for districts located at home and abroad, and with ecological risk analysis. PBDEs content is at a low level in sediments of Northeast China River Basin and there is no ecological risk.