Publication Abstract

Distribution and Fate of HBCD and TBBPA Brominated Flame Retardants in North Sea Estuaries and Aquatic Food Webs

S. Morris, C. Allchin, B. Zegers, J. Haftka, J. Boon, C. Belpaire, S. Brandsma, A. Kruijt, I. van der Veen, J. Hesselingen. and J. de Boer

Research performed by Dutch and UK laboratories has identified the presence of the three diastereomers of the flame retardant formulation - hexabromocyclododecane (a -, b - and γ -HBCD), in estuarine sediments, a number of animal species representing different trophic levels of estuarine and the North Sea food webs and in the effluent of sewage treatment works and landfill leachates. Tetrabromobisphenol A and its derivative – dimethyl TBBP-A were also occasionally detected in these matrices but at considerably lower concentrations.

Reference:

S. Morris, C. Allchin, B. Zegers, J. Haftka, J. Boon, C. Belpaire, S. Brandsma, A. Kruijt, I. van der Veen, J. Hesselingen. and J. de Boer (2004) Distribution and Fate of HBCD and TBBPA Brominated Flame Retardants in North Sea Estuaries and Aquatic Food Webs. Environmental Science and Technology, 38(21): 5497-5504