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Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers Mobility in Biosolids-Amended Soils Using Leaching Column Tests

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Abstract

Leaching column tests were conducted to determine the mobility of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in biosolids-amended soils. Deionized water was introduced from the bottom of a glass leaching column containing a 14-mm layer of biosolids-amended soils (210 g) under 42 mm of agricultural soil (600 g). After 4 weeks of leaching, 3.75 L of deionized water had passed through the 210-g biosolids–soil layer and 600 g soil, corresponding to 34 volumes of the leachate per volume of solid. The agricultural soil was divided into three 14-mm layers to determine the PBDE distribution along the flow path of the infiltrating water. PBDEs were found to leach from the biosolids-amended soils layer and migrate through the soil. The predominant congeners BDE47, 85, 99, 100, 153, 154, 183, and 209 decreased to 3–98% of their initial concentrations in the biosolids-amended soil, whereas the total concentration of these eight congeners decreased by 38%. PBDE concentrations in the first 14-mm soil layer increased from not detected (nd) to up to 234 × 103 pg/g dry weight basis (dw). Concentrations in the second and third soil layers increased from nd to 20 and 25 pg/g dw. PBDE in the leachate increased from nd to 310 × 103 pg/L. Mobilization of PBDEs is likely associated with dissolved organic matter and colloids in the infiltrating water.

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Acknowledgments

Financial assistance from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada and Environment Canada, Existing Substances Branch, is greatly appreciated. We also thank the supplier of the biosolid samples and the chemists and support staff of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Regional Contaminants Laboratory at the Institute of Ocean Sciences in Sidney, B.C. for their assistance in analyzing the samples, as well as the technical staff at the University of British Columbia for their assistance with the experimental work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

    Tamer Gorgy & Loretta Y. Li

  2. Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

    John R. Grace

  3. Institute of Ocean Sciences-Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Sidney, BC, Canada

    Michael G. Ikonomou

Authors
  1. Tamer Gorgy
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  2. Loretta Y. Li
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  3. John R. Grace
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  4. Michael G. Ikonomou
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Correspondence to Loretta Y. Li.

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Gorgy, T., Li, L.Y., Grace, J.R. et al. Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers Mobility in Biosolids-Amended Soils Using Leaching Column Tests. Water Air Soil Pollut 222, 77–90 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-011-0810-0

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