Contamination of hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) in styrofoam marine debris from Asia and Pacific region and the Great Tsunami

Abstract

Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) listed in the Stockholm Convention as a persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic chemical is an additive mainly applied to expanded polystyrenes as a flame retardant. In order to evaluate the HBCD content in styrofoam marine debris, the beached styrofoam samples including styrofoam buoys and their fragments (predominant marine debris in Republic of Korea) have been collected along the Korean coasts and analyzed. In addition, styrofoam marine debris from twelve countries in Asia and Pacific region (USA, Canada,Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Peru, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, and Bangladesh) and the Great Tsunami styrofoam debris stranded on Alaskan beach of USA were also investigated. A wide range of HBCD concentrations were detected in the samples. For the Korean samples, the HBCD concentrations were in the range of 282-2700 μg/g for styrofoam spherules, 3.6-878 μg/g for small-sized buoy (40-70 L), and 0-4680 μg/g for large-size buoy (> 200 L). In general, styrofoam debris from developed countries such as USA, Canada and Singapore showed higher concentration of HBCDs compared to developing countries. Three out of nine styrofoam debris samples from the Great Tsunami had HBCDs in the range of 3,160-14,500 μg/g, which was thought to be originated from construction materials. Owing to their buoyancy, styrofoam debris have great potential to travel long distances by ocean currfoam marine debris, the beached styrofoam samples including styrofoam buoys and their fragments (predominant marine debris in Republic of Korea) have been collected along the Korean coasts and analyzed. In addition, styrofoam marine debris from twelve countries in Asia and Pacific region (USA, Canada,Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Peru, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, and Bangladesh) and the Great Tsunami styrofoam debris stranded on Alaskan beach of USA were also investigated. A wide range of HBCD concentrations were detected in the samples. For the Korean samples, the HBCD concentrations were in the range of 282-2700 μg/g for styrofoam spherules, 3.6-878 μg/g for small-sized buoy (40-70 L), and 0-4680 μg/g for large-size buoy (> 200 L). In general, styrofoam debris from developed countries such as USA, Canada and Singapore showed higher concentration of HBCDs compared to developing countries. Three out of nine styrofoam debris samples from the Great Tsunami had HBCDs in the range of 3,160-14,500 μg/g, which was thought to be originated from construction materials. Owing to their buoyancy, styrofoam debris have great potential to travel long distances by ocean curr