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Occurrence, Spatial Distribution and Health Risk of Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) in Source Water in the Lower Yangtze River, China

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Abstract

The occurrence and health risk of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), a brominated flame retardant with its three diastereoisomers, in drinking water sources in the lower Yangtze River in China was investigated. Its concentration ranged from 0.58 to 3.71 ng/L and averaged at 1.18 ng/L. Among the three diastereoisomers of α-, β- and γ-HBCD, γ-HBCD was the dominant one accounting for 44% (ranging 27–82%) to the total concentration. Source of HBCD in the contaminated site was discussed according to its spatial distribution and diastereoisomer profile. The margin of exposure (MOE) approach was applied to evaluate the health risk of HBCD through drinking water by estimated exposure and derived reference dose. The MOE was 17 for adults and 12 for children in the worst-case scenario, suggesting a trivial health concern.

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Acknowledgements

The study was supported by Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund of China (GYZX210502 and GYZX200204); the Environment Protection Research Program of Jiangsu Province, China (2017024).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Pesticide Environmental Assessment and Pollution Control, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing, 210042, China

    Yueqing Zhang, Jia Yu, Juying Li, Yezhi Dou & Deyang Kong

  2. Department of Geology, Mining and Environmental Science, University of Bamenda, P. O. Box 39, Bambili, North West Region, Cameroon

    Yvette Baninla

  3. Graduate School of Humanities and Social Science, University of Hiroshima, Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima, 739-8511, Japan

    Yvette Baninla

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  1. Yueqing Zhang
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  2. Yvette Baninla
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  4. Juying Li
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  5. Yezhi Dou
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  6. Deyang Kong
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Correspondence to Deyang Kong.

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Zhang, Y., Baninla, Y., Yu, J. et al. Occurrence, Spatial Distribution and Health Risk of Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) in Source Water in the Lower Yangtze River, China. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 109, 943–948 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-021-03431-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-021-03431-0

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