WP6 Emerging Pollutants
Wednesday, 16 November 2005: 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM in Exhibit Hall
(BAC-1117-643192) Spatial and temporal distributions of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in wet-only precipitation collected in the Great Lakes Basin.
Backus, S.1, Archer, M.1, Harrison, B.1, Williams, D.1, Muir, D.C.G. 1, Alaee, M.1, 1 Environment Canada, Burlington, ON, Canada
ABSTRACT- Spatial and temporal distributions of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) in wet-only precipitation collected at nine IADN sites in the Great Lakes Basin were examined. A total of 118 samples were collected and analyzed for fifteen PBDE congeners (BDE-17, -28/33, -47, -66, -100, -99, -85, -154, -153, -138, -183, -190, and -209) and HBCD. The concentrations of BDE-209 and 
PBDE (defined as the sum of all targeted PBDE congeners except for BDE-209) ranged from non-detect (n.d.) to 44 ng/L and from 0.021 to 4.2 ng/L respectively. Congener compositions were dominated by BDE-209 followed by BDE-99, -47, -183, -100, -153 and -154. Average annual wet deposition of BDE-209 and PBDE for the nine sites ranged from 2.8 to 5.3 ng/m2/day and from 0.39 to 1.3 ng/m2/day respectively. The concentration of HBCD ranged from n.d. to 35 ng/L and annual wet deposition ranged from 0.36 to 10 ng/m2/day. Annual variations were observed with peaks in the winter, which are likely the result of the increased scavenging efficiency of snow compared to rain and higher concentrations in the particle phase during the winter. There is no consistent pattern in the spatial distribution of BFRs in the basin.
Key words: HBCD, PBDE, precipitation, IADN