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Congener-specific accumulation and environmental risk assessment of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in diverse Korean sewage sludge types

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Abstract

Industrial, domestic wastewater, and livestock sludge samples were collected from 23 wastewater treatment plants in Korea and analyzed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The concentrations of Σ19PBDE ranged from 4.01 to 10,400 ng/g dry weight. The average Σ19PBDE concentrations in industrial, domestic wastewater, and livestock sludge were 1,560 ± 3,610, 402 ± 148, and 27.6 ± 50.4 ng/g dry weight, respectively. The composition of PBDEs differed according to the type of sludge. Among the PBDE congeners, BDE 209 was dominant in all sludge samples. After BDE 209, relatively high levels were found for BDE 28 and 47 from industrial sludge, BDE 47 and 99 from domestic wastewater sludge, and BDE 206, 207, and 208 from livestock sludge. Using hierarchical cluster analysis, sludges were divided into three groups according to PBDE congener composition. A risk assessment of PBDEs in sludge used for soil amendment was carried out. Preliminary results indicated that the potential risk of soil exposed to PBDEs in sludge was relatively low.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Basic Science Research Program (2012R1A1A4A01009206) and BK21 PLUS Project through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, Korea and partially by “Oil spill environmental impact assessment and environmental restoration (D10904311H330000110)” funded by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Korea.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Marine Industry, Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, Gyeongsang National University, Tongyeong, 650-160, Republic of Korea

    Hyo Jin Lee & Gi Beum Kim

  2. Marine Environments and Conservation Research Division, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Ansan, 426-744, Republic of Korea

    Chang Joon Kim & Gi Hoon Hong

  3. Oil and POPs Research Group, South Sea Branch Institute, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje, 656-834, Republic of Korea

    Sang Hee Hong & Won Joon Shim

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  1. Hyo Jin Lee
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  2. Chang Joon Kim
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Correspondence to Gi Beum Kim.

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Responsible editor: Roland Kallenborn

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Lee, H.J., Kim, C.J., Hong, G.H. et al. Congener-specific accumulation and environmental risk assessment of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in diverse Korean sewage sludge types. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 7480–7488 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-2664-7

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