Bioaccumulation of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers and Alternative Halogenated Flame Retardants in a Vegetation–Caribou–Wolf Food Chain of the Canadian Arctic

Abstract

The trophodynamics of halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and alternative HFRs were investigated in the terrestrial, vegetation–caribou–wolf food chain in the Bathurst Region of northern Canada. The greatest concentrations in vegetation (geometric mean of lichens, moss, grasses, willow, and mushrooms) were of the order 2,4,6-tribromophenyl allyl ether (TBP-AE) (10 ng g–1 lw) > BDE47 (5.5 ng g–1 lw) > BDE99 (3.9 ng g–1 lw) > BDE100 (0.82 ng g–1 lw) > 1,2,3,4,5-pentabromobenzene (PBBz) (0.72 ng g–1 lw). Bioconcentration among types of vegetation was consistent, though it was typically greatest in rootless vegetation (lichens, moss). Biomagnification was limited in mammals; only BDE197, BDE206–208 and ∑PBDE biomagnified to caribou from vegetation [biomagnification factors (BMFs) = 2.0–5.1]. Wolves biomagnified BDE28/33, BDE153, BDE154, BDE206, BDE207, and ∑PBDE significantly from caribou (BMFs = 2.9–17) but neither mammal biomagnified any alternative HFRs. Only concentrations of BDE28/33, BDE198, nonaBDEs, and ∑PBDE increased with trophic level, though the magnitude of biomagnification was low relative to legacy, recalcitrant organochlorine contaminants [trophic magnification factors (TMFs) = 1.3–1.8]. Despite bioaccumulation in vegetation and mammals, the contaminants investigated here exhibited limited biomagnification potential and remained at low parts per billion concentrations in wolves.

Spatial and Temporal Trends (2004–2016) of Selected Alternative Flame Retardants in Fish of the Laurentian Great Lakes

“…Data from other ecosystems also revealed a dominance of PBDEs over alternative FRs in most aquatic and terrestrial organisms. 50,51,55,56,67,68 This pattern may be determined by chemical-dependent production volume and bioaccumulation potency. Spatial Distribution of FR Concentrations and Compositions.…”

Brominated flame retardants in a computer technical service: Indoor air gas phase, submicron (PM1) and coarse (PM10) particles, associated inhalation exposure, and settled dust

“…Most flame retardants are characterized by their long lifetime in nature due to their persistency, accumulation in the food chain, and toxicity (Darnerud, 2003). Flame retardants are found in all environmental media such as soil (Drage et al, 2016), vegetation (Morris et al, 2018), water sources (Gottschall et al, 2017), and air (Tao et al, 2016;Vorkamp et al, 2015). Bromine is one of the most used chemicals in production of flame retardants.…”

Spatio-temporal variation of subtidal macrobenthic fauna and the ecological assessment of Longkou Artificial Island construction in Bohai Sea, China

“…It is suggested that the molecular and physicochemical similarities of some alternatives to PBDEs might also result in unfavorable environmental fates (Covaci et al, 2011). Several NBFRs have a tendency to bioaccumulate and are potentially toxic owing to their optimum range of K OW (i.e., log K OW of 5e8) for bioaccumulation (Carlsson et al, 2018;Ezechias et al, 2014;Morris et al, 2018). Both legacy and emerging BFRs have been detected in various environments worldwide, and even transported to the polar regions and the deep ocean through the long-range atmospheric transport and ocean current (Brown et al, 2018;Carlsson et al, 2018;Ma et al, 2015).…”