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Tuning the Acidity of Pt/ CNTs Catalysts for Hydrodeoxygenation of Diphenyl Ether
Published on: August 17, 2019
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Forest filter effect for polybrominated diphenyl ethers in a tropical watershed
Kayon S C Barrett1, Foday M Jaward2, Amy L Stuart3
1Faculty of Science and Sport, University of Technology, Jamaica, 235 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6, Jamaica.
Journal of Environmental Management
|July 27, 2019
Summary
Tropical forests act as natural filters for persistent organic pollutants like polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Forests capture PBDEs from the atmosphere, transferring them to the soil, which is crucial for watershed management.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Ecotoxicology
- Tropical Ecosystems
Background:
- Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), specifically polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), pose environmental risks.
- Limited research exists on POP fates in tropical multi-use watersheds.
- Understanding pollutant behavior in these ecosystems is vital for environmental protection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of forests in the environmental fate of PBDEs.
- To analyze PBDE concentrations and deposition in a tropical drainage basin (Rio Cobre watershed).
- To compare PBDE levels in forest versus clearing environments.
Main Methods:
- Field sampling of atmospheric deposition, soil, litterfall, and air.
- Analysis of eight specific PBDE congeners (PBDE-28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154, 183, 209).
- Comparison of PBDE data between forest and clearing sites.
Main Results:
- PBDE concentrations in forest air and litterfall were generally lower than in the clearing.
- Deposition flux rates and soil concentrations of PBDEs were higher within the forest.
- The forest environment showed evidence of filtering PBDEs from the atmosphere to soil.
Conclusions:
- Tropical forests play a significant role in the environmental fate of PBDEs.
- Forests act as sinks, intercepting atmospheric PBDEs and accumulating them in soil.
- These findings highlight the importance of forest conservation for managing POPs in tropical watersheds.
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