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Levels and Seasonal Variations of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in the Urban Atmosphere of Beijing, China

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Abstract

Year-round air samples were collected at Beijing on a weekly basis from 2009 to 2010, to determine the levels, gas-particle distribution, seasonal variations and compositional profiles of 8 polybrominated diphenyl ether congeners. The annual mean atmospheric concentrations of ∑7PBDEs and BDE-209 were 6.16 pg/m3(N.D–23.6 pg/m3) and 164 pg/m3 (30.7–454 pg/m3), respectively. The results showed wide consumption of industrial products containing commercial deca-BDE mixtures in Beijing. The seasonal variations showed that lower brominated congeners had higher levels and greater proportions in the gaseous phase at warm sampling periods than the higher brominated counterparts.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful for financial support from the National Natural Science Fund (No. 41003044) and the Special Fund for Environmental Protection Research in the Public Interest (No. 20100902601).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Research Center for Environmental Analysis and Measurement, No. 1 Yuhuinan Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029, China

    Shuangxin Shi, Yeru Huang & Liang Dong

  2. National Research Center of Geoanalysis, No. 26 Baiwanzhuang Avenue, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100037, China

    Kuiyuan Wan & Yongliang Yang

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  1. Shuangxin Shi
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  2. Yeru Huang
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  3. Kuiyuan Wan
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  4. Liang Dong
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  5. Yongliang Yang
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Correspondence to Shuangxin Shi.

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Shi, S., Huang, Y., Wan, K. et al. Levels and Seasonal Variations of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in the Urban Atmosphere of Beijing, China. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 90, 296–301 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-012-0924-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-012-0924-0

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