Residue and Ecological Risk Assessment of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in sediment from CauBay River, Vietnam

Abstract

      This research presents the assessment of congener profiles (7 indicator congeners) of Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in sediment samples covering ten sites in CauBay River, Hanoi. Chemical analyses were carried out in gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for tri- to hepta- brominated congeners. Results pointed out a non-homogenous contamination of the sediment with ∑7 PBDE values ranging from 8.93 to 25.64 ng g-1, reflecting moderate contamination closely in conformity to other Asian environmental sediment. The general order of decreasing congener contribution to the total load was: BDE 47 > 99 > 100 > 154, similar to the PBDEs distribution pattern worldwide. PBDEs had low environmental risks in the sediment of studied area. However, due to the propensity of PBDEs to highly accumulate in various compartments of wildlife and human food webs, further evaluation of ecological risk assessment in CauBay River should be undertaken as a high priority.