Contamination status and characteristics of hexabromocyclododecans in the Korean coastal environment

Abstract

Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) are one of most widely used brominated flame retardants along with tetrabromobisphenol-A and before decabromodiphenyl ether. After the banning of some polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) formulations, the use of BFRs has been shifted to non-PBDE halogenated FRs, such as HBCDs, to replace the prohibited commercial PBDEs, resulting in a trend of increasing HBCDs levels in the environment. Due to its potential toxicity, environmental persistence, bioaccumulative tendencies, and long-range transportability, HBCDs were added to the list of global elimination compounds under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in May 2013. The usage of HBCDs in Korea has increased over the years (530 tonnes in 1993 and 1,896 tonnes in 2010). However, there are only a few reports about the pollution status ofHBCDs in the environment of Korea. Based on available data, their contamination status and characteristics in the Korean coastal environment were discussed. The overall concentrations of HBCDs detected in coastal sediment from Korea ranged from 0.05 to 208 ng/g dw (median value: 5,62). The highest concentration was determined near petrochemical industrial complexes in Ulsan. The contamination levels of HBCDs in industrialized bays becomes higher than that of PBDEs. Industrial activities, wastewater treatment plant and aquaculture activities using EPS buoys were identified ae of BFRs has been shifted to non-PBDE halogenated FRs, such as HBCDs, to replace the prohibited commercial PBDEs, resulting in a trend of increasing HBCDs levels in the environment. Due to its potential toxicity, environmental persistence, bioaccumulative tendencies, and long-range transportability, HBCDs were added to the list of global elimination compounds under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in May 2013. The usage of HBCDs in Korea has increased over the years (530 tonnes in 1993 and 1,896 tonnes in 2010). However, there are only a few reports about the pollution status ofHBCDs in the environment of Korea. Based on available data, their contamination status and characteristics in the Korean coastal environment were discussed. The overall concentrations of HBCDs detected in coastal sediment from Korea ranged from 0.05 to 208 ng/g dw (median value: 5,62). The highest concentration was determined near petrochemical industrial complexes in Ulsan. The contamination levels of HBCDs in industrialized bays becomes higher than that of PBDEs. Industrial activities, wastewater treatment plant and aquaculture activities using EPS buoys were identified a