Atmospheric occurrence and gas-particle partitioning of PBDEs at industrial, urban and suburban sites of Thessaloniki, northern Greece: Implications for human health. (August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Besis, Athanasios; Voutsa, Dimitra; Samara, Constantini
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 215(2016)
• Page Start: 113
• Page End: 124
• Publication Date: 2016-08
• Subjects: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers -- Gas phase -- Particulate phase -- Seasonal variation -- Intake -- Human exposure; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.04.093
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Air samples were collected during the cold and the warm period of the year 2012 and 2013 at three sites in the major Thessaloniki area, northern Greece (urban-industrial, urban-traffic and urban-background) in order to evaluate the occurrence, profiles, seasonal variation and gas/particle partitioning of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The mean total concentrations of particle phase ∑12 PBDE in the cold season were 28.7, 19.5 and 3.87 pg m −3 at the industrial, urban-traffic and urban-background site, respectively, dropping slightly in the warm season (23.7, 17.5 and 3.14 pg m −3 ), respectively. The corresponding levels of gas-phase ∑12 PBDE were 14.4, 7.15 and 4.73 pg m −3 in the cold season and 21.2, 11.1 and 6.27 pg m −3 in the warm season, respectively. In all samples, BDE-47 and BDE-99 were the dominant congeners. Absorption of PBDEs in the organic matter of particles appeared to drive their gas/particle partitioning, particularly in the cold season. The estimated average outdoor workday inhalation exposure to ∑12 PBDE in the cold and the warm period followed the order: industrial site (288 and 299 pg day −1 ) > urban-traffic site (178 and 191 pg day −1 ) > urban-background site (58 and 63 pg day −1 ). The exposures to BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-153 and ∑3 PBDE via inhalation, for children outdoor worker and seniors were several orders of magnitude lower than their corresponding oral RfD values. Graphical abstract: Highlights: PBDEs were measured at industrial site and in the urban agglomeration of Thessaloniki. Mean ∑12 PBDE concentrations (g+p) where higher at the industrial site, than urban-traffic and urban-background site. The dominant congeners in all samples were BDE-47 and BDE-99. Average outdoor inhalation exposure and non-carcinogenic risk assessments was estimated. Abstract : Total (g+p) concentrations of ∑12 PBDE in our study followed the order: industrial site > urban-traffic site> urban-background site.