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Environment Partitioning and Reactivity of Polybrominated DiphenylethersPolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are an important class of flame retardants. Annual global demand for these compounds was over 67,000 metric tons in 2001. PBDEs have recently been extensively investigated as environmental contaminants because they have been detected in air, sediment, and tissue samples from urban and remote areas. Important issues include quantifying PBDE partitioning in various environmental compartments, and elucidating transformation pathways. The partitioning of PBDE congeners to aerosols was estimated for 16 sites in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The aerosol particles were PM2.5, the total suspended particle (TSP) concentration varied between 3.0 - 55.4 micro g/cubic meter, and the organic fraction ranged from 11 - 41%; these data are published values for each site. It is estimated that the largest fraction of each PBDE associated with the aerosol particles occurs in Mexico City, and the smallest fraction in Colorado Plateau. Although the organic fraction in Mexico City is about 60% of that observed in the Colorado Plateau, the TSP is larger by a factor of about 18.5, and it is the difference in TSP that strongly influences the fraction of particle-bound PBDE in this case. PBDE partitioning to PM2.5 particles also varies seasonally because of temperature variations. For the less brominated congeners the percentage that is particle-bound is relatively low, regardless of air temperature. In contrast, the heavier congeners exhibit a significant temperature dependence: as the temperature decreases (fall, winter) the percentage of PBDE that is particle-bound increases. The partitioning calculations complement experimental data indicating that decabromodiphenyl ether (DBDE) dissolved in hexane transforms very rapidly when irradiated with solar light. DBDE is the most highly brominated PBDE congener (10 bromine atoms) and occurs in the commercial formulation which is subject to the largest global demand.
Document ID
20040070705
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Hua, Inez
(Purdue Univ. West Lafayette, IN, United States)
Iraci, Laura T.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Jafvert, Chad
(Purdue Univ. West Lafayette, IN, United States)
Bezares-Cruz, Juan
(Purdue Univ. West Lafayette, IN, United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
March 1, 2004
Subject Category
Environment Pollution
Meeting Information
Meeting: American and Canadian Geophysical Union Meeting
Location: Montreal
Country: Canada
Start Date: May 17, 2004
End Date: May 21, 2004
Sponsors: American Geophysical Union, Canadian Geophysical Union
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 622-67-21-10
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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