PASSIVE AIR SAMPLING OF POPs ACROSS ASIA: POLYBROMINATED DIPHENYL ETHERS (PBDEs)

Abstract

Passive sampling in the environmental research is getting an increasing attention as an alternative to the expensive and more laborious active sampling. It can provide time-integrated samples for air and water. In this study, the contamination status and characteristics of PBDEs in Asian atmosphere were using passive air sampler (PAS). Polyurethane foam (PUF)-type PASs were deployed for 28-95 days (every year from June to October, 2010-2012) at urban and rural at 11 locations from 9 countries (Korea, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka). The mean concentrations of Σ9PBDE (defined as the sum of BDE-17, -28, -47, -66, -100, -99, -154, -153, and -183) in Asian urban and rural area were 19.5±6.5 pg m-3 and 16.4±7.5 pg m-3, respectively. The Σ9PBDE was relatively higher in urban areas than that of rural. The mean concentrations of PCBs (Urban: 175 pg m-3, Rural: 45.8 pg m-3) and DDTs (Urban: 158 pg m-3, Rural: 89.3 pg m-3 ) were also found to be on the same trend like Σ9PBDE. The highest level of Σ9PBDE was detected in the rural sites of Beijing, China (mean: 34.6 ± 37.4 pg m-3) followed by urban sites of Indonesia (28.1 ± 10.9 pg m-3) and Malaysia (26.1 ± 16.5 pg m-3). Although Korea is one of the biggest markets of flame retardant, accounting for about 10% of global use, the Σ9PBDE concentration was relatively low in Korea compared to other Asian countries. Consideriion status and characteristics of PBDEs in Asian atmosphere were using passive air sampler (PAS). Polyurethane foam (PUF)-type PASs were deployed for 28-95 days (every year from June to October, 2010-2012) at urban and rural at 11 locations from 9 countries (Korea, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka). The mean concentrations of Σ9PBDE (defined as the sum of BDE-17, -28, -47, -66, -100, -99, -154, -153, and -183) in Asian urban and rural area were 19.5±6.5 pg m-3 and 16.4±7.5 pg m-3, respectively. The Σ9PBDE was relatively higher in urban areas than that of rural. The mean concentrations of PCBs (Urban: 175 pg m-3, Rural: 45.8 pg m-3) and DDTs (Urban: 158 pg m-3, Rural: 89.3 pg m-3 ) were also found to be on the same trend like Σ9PBDE. The highest level of Σ9PBDE was detected in the rural sites of Beijing, China (mean: 34.6 ± 37.4 pg m-3) followed by urban sites of Indonesia (28.1 ± 10.9 pg m-3) and Malaysia (26.1 ± 16.5 pg m-3). Although Korea is one of the biggest markets of flame retardant, accounting for about 10% of global use, the Σ9PBDE concentration was relatively low in Korea compared to other Asian countries. Consideri