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Spatial and temporal distributions of hexabromocyclododecanes in surface soils of Jinan, China

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Abstract

Contamination by hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDDs) in the soil environment is an ongoing concern because of their “specific exemption” on the production and use in China. In this study, spatial distribution, temporal trend, and diastereoisomer profiles of HBCDDs were examined in surface soils collected in Jinan, China. Concentrations of ΣHBCDD (sum of α-, β-, and γ-HBCDDs) in soils ranged from 1.70 to 228 ng/g dry weight (dw), with a mean value of 26.1 ng/g dw. Soils collected from e-waste dismantling sites (mean 146 ng/g dw) contained significantly higher concentrations of ΣHBCDD than those of urban (15.5 ng/g dw) and farmland soils (3.86 ng/g dw) (p < 0.01). The temporal trend suggested that ΣHBCDD levels in the industrial area rose significantly between 2014 and 2019 (p < 0.05), with an annual increase of 12%. An increase in ΣHBCDD levels was also observed in urban and farmland soil samples during the study period, although it did not reach a significant level (p > 0.05). All surface soils were dominated by γ-HBCDD (mean 60.7% of total concentrations); however, the proportions of α-isomer increased from 28.7% in urban and rural soils to 43.4% in industrial soils. The calculated risk quotients of HBCDDs present in soils were at least 25-fold lower than the threshold limit value. The mean mass inventory of HBCDDs was approximately 2501 kg in the cultivated land of Jinan City; further studies are needed to discern the uptake of HBCDDs by crops and the fate of these chemicals in agricultural ecosystems.

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Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China

    Yulian Sun

  2. Department of Pediatrics and Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA

    Hongkai Zhu

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  1. Yulian Sun
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Sun analyzed and interpreted the measured data regarding the occurrence of HBCDDs in soils, and was a major contributor in writing the manuscript. Zhu performed the project supervision, writing review, and editing. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Hongkai Zhu.

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Sun, Y., Zhu, H. Spatial and temporal distributions of hexabromocyclododecanes in surface soils of Jinan, China. Environ Monit Assess 192, 629 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08587-6

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