Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether PBDE Flame Retardants in San

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether (PBDE) Flame Retardants in San Francisco Bay Daniel R. Oros, Ph. D. San Francisco Estuary Institute

PBDEs are HOT contaminants!

PBDEs are HOT contaminants! • Persistent: long lived in the environment

PBDEs are HOT contaminants! • Persistent: long lived in the environment • Bioaccumulative: transport through food webs

PBDEs are HOT contaminants! • Persistent: long lived in the environment • Bioaccumulative: • Dispersed: transport through food webs world-wide contamination in humans, animals, our food sources and environment

PBDEs are HOT contaminants! • Persistent: long lived in the environment • Bioaccumulative: • Dispersed: transport through food webs world-wide contamination in humans, animals, our food sources and environment • Endocrine disruptors: target the thyroid

PBDE Commercial Mixtures and Major Congeners Penta BDE-99 BDE-47 BDE-100 BDE-153 BDE-154 Deca Octa BDE-183 BDE-209

PBDEs Banned in California • Ban on Penta and Octa mixtures, but not Deca, will be in effect on June 1, 2006 • The ban might not be very effective at decreasing environmental PBDE concentrations North America use of PBDEs: Deca (75%), Penta (21%) and Octa (4%) of total mass Deca degrades to lower molecular weight PBDE congeners

Distribution of PBDEs in SF Bay Water 2002 PBDEs range 3 -513 pg/L Source: RMP

Distribution of PBDEs in SF Bay Sediments 2002 PBDEs range 0. 2 -212 ng/g dry wt Source: RMP

Distributions of PBDEs in SF Bay Bivalves 2002 PBDEs range (dry wt) Mussels 13 -47 ng/g Oysters 9 -64 ng/g Clams 85 -106 ng/g Source: RMP

Distributions of PBDEs in SF Bay Bivalves 2001 -2003 Source: RMP

Distributions of PBDEs in SF Bay Fish 1997 and 2002 Source: EWG, 2003

Distributions of PBDEs in SF Bay Tern Eggs. Forester’s tern eggs showed the highest ever reported PBDE levels in wildlife = 63 ppm Source: She et al. , 2004

Current work in the Bay PBDE Conceptual Model and Impairment Assessment funded by RMP and CEP • Identify PBDE Sources • Estimate PBDE Loading • Assess Extent of Bay Impairment from PBDEs

Major Sources of PBDEs to the Environment • Wastewater effluents • Sludge disposal • Volatilization from commercial products • Burning of disposed commercial products Other Suspected Sources • Atmospheric deposition (e. g. , autofluff piles) • Tributary inflow (stormwater runoff)

Like PCBs, the PBDEs in Guadalupe River are strongly associated with suspended sediments Source: RMP

Sunlight degrades BDE-209 to lower molecular weight congeners (Source: Bezares-Cruz et al. , 2004). 10 Br Atoms (BDE-209)

Sunlight degrades BDE-209 to lower molecular weight congeners (Source: Bezares-Cruz et al. , 2004). 9 -10 Br Atoms (BDE-209)

Sunlight degrades BDE-209 to lower molecular weight congeners (Source: Bezares-Cruz et al. , 2004). 7 -10 Br Atoms 9 -10 Br Atoms (BDE-209)

Sunlight degrades BDE-209 to lower molecular weight congeners (Source: Bezares-Cruz et al. , 2004). BDE-209 is not detected at 30 min 7 -9 Br Atoms 7 -10 Br Atoms 9 -10 Br Atoms (BDE-209)

Sunlight degrades BDE-209 to lower molecular weight congeners (Source: Bezares-Cruz et al. , 2004). 5 -8 Br Atoms BDE-209 is not detected at 30 min 7 -9 Br Atoms 7 -10 Br Atoms 9 -10 Br Atoms (BDE-209)

Sunlight degrades BDE-209 to lower molecular weight congeners (Source: Bezares-Cruz et al. , 2004). 4 -7 Br Atoms 5 -8 Br Atoms BDE-209 is not detected at 30 min 7 -9 Br Atoms 7 -10 Br Atoms 9 -10 Br Atoms (BDE-209)

Sunlight degrades BDE-209 to lower molecular weight congeners (Source: Bezares-Cruz et al. , 2004). 4 -7 Br Atoms 3 -7 Br Atoms 5 -8 Br Atoms BDE-209 is not detected at 30 min 7 -9 Br Atoms 7 -10 Br Atoms 9 -10 Br Atoms (BDE-209)

Closing • The Bay Area appears to be a “Hot Spot” for PBDEs • The CA ban on Penta and Octa, but not Deca, might not result in an immediate and significant decrease in environmental PBDE levels • Water and sediment quality criteria have not yet been developed for PBDEs, but they are coming.

Acknowledgements • RMP • AXYS Analytical Services Ltd • East Bay Municipal Utility District • CA Dept of Fish and Game • SFEI