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Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether (PBDE) Flame Retardants in San Francisco Bay Daniel R. Oros, Ph.D.

Learn about the persistent PBDE contaminants impacting San Francisco Bay, their bioaccumulative nature through food webs, dispersal in the environment, and potential endocrine disruption effects. Discover major PBDE sources, commercial mixtures, distribution in water, sediment, bivalves, fish, and tern eggs in the Bay Area. Explore ongoing research on PBDE sources and impairments in the Bay, including wastewater, burning products, and atmospheric deposition, and the impact of sunlight on degrading PBDE congeners. Find out about PBDE regulations, exposure risks, and future water quality criteria development.

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Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether (PBDE) Flame Retardants in San Francisco Bay Daniel R. Oros, Ph.D.

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  1. Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether (PBDE) Flame Retardants in San Francisco Bay Daniel R. Oros, Ph.D. San Francisco Estuary Institute

  2. PBDEs are HOT contaminants!

  3. PBDEs are HOT contaminants! • Persistent: long lived in the environment

  4. PBDEs are HOT contaminants! • Persistent: long lived in the environment • Bioaccumulative: transport through food webs

  5. PBDEs are HOT contaminants! • Persistent: long lived in the environment • Bioaccumulative: transport through food webs • Dispersed: world-wide contamination in humans, animals, our food sources and environment

  6. PBDEs are HOT contaminants! • Persistent: long lived in the environment • Bioaccumulative: transport through food webs • Dispersed: world-wide contamination in humans, animals, our food sources and environment • Endocrine disruptors: target the thyroid

  7. PBDE Commercial Mixtures and Major Congeners Penta BDE-99 BDE-47 BDE-100 BDE-153 BDE-154 Deca Octa BDE-183 BDE-209

  8. PBDEs Banned in California • Ban on Penta and Octa mixtures, but not Deca, will be in effect on June 1, 2006 • The ban might not be very effective at decreasing environmental PBDE concentrations • North America use of PBDEs: Deca (75%), • Penta (21%) and Octa (4%) of total mass • Deca degrades to lower molecular weight PBDE congeners

  9. Distribution of PBDEs in SF Bay Water 2002 PBDEs range 3-513 pg/L Source: RMP

  10. Distribution of PBDEs in SF Bay Sediments 2002 PBDEs range 0.2-212 ng/g dry wt Source: RMP

  11. Distributions of PBDEs in SF Bay Bivalves 2002 PBDEs range (dry wt) Mussels 13-47 ng/g Oysters 9-64 ng/g Clams 85-106 ng/g Source: RMP

  12. Distributions of PBDEs in SF Bay Bivalves 2001-2003 Source: RMP

  13. Distributions of PBDEs in SF Bay Fish 1997 and 2002 Source: EWG, 2003

  14. Distributions of PBDEs in SF Bay Tern Eggs. Forester’s tern eggs showed the highest ever reported PBDE levels in wildlife = 63 ppm Source: She et al., 2004

  15. Current work in the Bay • PBDE Conceptual Model and Impairment Assessment funded by RMP and CEP • Identify PBDE Sources • Estimate PBDE Loading • Assess Extent of Bay Impairment from PBDEs

  16. Major Sources of PBDEs to the Environment • Wastewater effluents • Sludge disposal • Volatilization from commercial products • Burning of disposed commercial products • Other Suspected Sources • Atmospheric deposition (e.g., autofluff piles) • Tributary inflow (stormwater runoff)

  17. Like PCBs, the PBDEs in Guadalupe River are strongly associated with suspended sediments Source: RMP

  18. Sunlight degrades BDE-209 to lower molecular weight congeners (Source: Bezares-Cruz et al., 2004). 10 Br Atoms (BDE-209)

  19. Sunlight degrades BDE-209 to lower molecular weight congeners (Source: Bezares-Cruz et al., 2004). 9-10 Br Atoms 10 Br Atoms (BDE-209)

  20. Sunlight degrades BDE-209 to lower molecular weight congeners (Source: Bezares-Cruz et al., 2004). 7-10 Br Atoms 9-10 Br Atoms 10 Br Atoms (BDE-209)

  21. Sunlight degrades BDE-209 to lower molecular weight congeners (Source: Bezares-Cruz et al., 2004). BDE-209 is not detected at 30 min 7-9 Br Atoms 7-10 Br Atoms 9-10 Br Atoms 10 Br Atoms (BDE-209)

  22. Sunlight degrades BDE-209 to lower molecular weight congeners (Source: Bezares-Cruz et al., 2004). 5-8 Br Atoms BDE-209 is not detected at 30 min 7-9 Br Atoms 7-10 Br Atoms 9-10 Br Atoms 10 Br Atoms (BDE-209)

  23. Sunlight degrades BDE-209 to lower molecular weight congeners (Source: Bezares-Cruz et al., 2004). 4-7 Br Atoms 5-8 Br Atoms BDE-209 is not detected at 30 min 7-9 Br Atoms 7-10 Br Atoms 9-10 Br Atoms 10 Br Atoms (BDE-209)

  24. Sunlight degrades BDE-209 to lower molecular weight congeners (Source: Bezares-Cruz et al., 2004). 3-7 Br Atoms 4-7 Br Atoms 5-8 Br Atoms BDE-209 is not detected at 30 min 7-9 Br Atoms 7-10 Br Atoms 9-10 Br Atoms 10 Br Atoms (BDE-209)

  25. Closing • The Bay Area appears to be a “Hot Spot” for PBDEs • The CA ban on Penta and Octa, but not Deca, might not result in an immediate and significant decrease in environmental PBDE levels • Water and sediment quality criteria have not yet been developed for PBDEs, but they are coming.

  26. Acknowledgements • RMP • AXYS Analytical Services Ltd • East Bay Municipal Utility District • CA Dept of Fish and Game • SFEI

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