Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDES) at a solid waste incineration plant I: Atmospheric concentrations

In the first of two papers, the atmospheric poly brominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) concentrations at a municipal solid waste incineration (MSW) plant with electronic recycling is compared with that at an industrial urban reference site producing asphalt and concrete. In the second paper, atmospheric deposition and washout behaviour is presented (Atmos. Environ. (2004a)). PBDEs (BDE28, -47, -66, -100, -154, -153, -183, -209) in the gaseous and particulate phase were measured with high resolution in time during the colder parts of the year to minimise the influence of potential historical pollution at the sites through volatilisation. This also means that reported levels are lower compared to other reported data. Results of BDE47 (TetraBDE) and BDE209 (DecaBDE) as representatives of "old" vs. "new" PBDEs as well as SigmaPBDE, excluding BDE209, are presented. Median SigmaPBDE, BDE47 and BDE209 concentration were 6.3, 2.1 and 10.4 pg m(-3) at the MSW and 3.5, 1.7 and 6.5 pg m-3 at the reference site. The total concentrations (gaseous and particulate phase) were significantly higher at the MSW compared to the reference site for SigmaPBDE and BDE47 but not for BDE209. The same results were obtained regarding concentrations in the gaseous phase. Particle concentrations were significantly higher at the MSW for SigmaPBDE, BDE47 and BDE209. Within each site, the gaseous-phase concentration was significantly higher than the particulate-phase concentration except for BDE209 at the MSW. Thus, the proportion of BDE209 detected in the particulate phase was higher at the MSW compared to the reference site. Together with the results of the second paper, we suggest that treatment of waste is presently a source of "old" PBDEs to the environment, whereas the rather similar BDE209 concentrations at the two sites are more a result of proximity to potential diffuse sources. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.