BACKGROUND: Brominated flame retardants (BFRs)--polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)--belong to the group of relatively "new" environmental contaminants. The occurrence of these compounds in the Czech aquatic ecosystem was for the first time documented within the 3-year monitoring study initiated in 2001. In 2002-2003 HBCD and the major PBDE congeners (28, 47, 49, 66, 85, 99, 100, 153, 154, and 183) were found in 136 freshwater fish samples collected from several sampling sites located at three Czech rivers (Vltava, Elbe, Tichá Orlice). Chub (Leuciscus cephalus), barbel (Barbus barbus), bream (Abramis brama), perch (Perca fluviatilis), and trout (Salmo trutta), representing the most common fish species, were examined by gas chromatography coupled with negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The presence of PBDE congeners and HBCD was detected in all analyzed samples (limits of detection for target analyts ranged from 0.015 to 0.1 ng/g lipid weight). Without exception the dominating congener was BDE-47. The most pronounced extent of fish contamination was found in the Vltava river at Klecany, downstream from the industrial agglomeration of Prague. As for fish species, the highest concentrations of PBDEs (sum of congeners) were measured in benthic species, represented by bream and barbel, up to 19.6 ng/g wet weight and 16.5 ng/g wet weight, respectively. The lowest accumulation occurred in predator fish (perch and trout). The highest levels of HBCD were detected in barbel from Srnojedy on the Elbe River (15.6 ng/g wet weight), downstream.

• MeSH
• bromované uhlovodíky analýza   MeSH
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu analýza   MeSH
• halogenované difenylethery MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí metody   MeSH
• polybrombifenylové sloučeniny analýza   MeSH
• řeky chemie   MeSH
• ryby metabolismus   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether MeSH Prohlížeč
• bromované uhlovodíky MeSH
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu MeSH
• halogenované difenylethery MeSH
• hexabromocyclododecane MeSH Prohlížeč
• polybrombifenylové sloučeniny MeSH

PBDEs were measured in air and soil across Azerbaijan to establish contemporary concentrations at 13 urban and rural sites. Polyurethane foam passive air samplers (PUF-PAS) were deployed for a period of a month with surface soil samples collected at the same sites. Unlike organochlorine pesticides previously surveyed by our group, PBDE concentrations in both contemporary air and soil were low in comparison to recent European and Asian studies. For example, mean ∑9PBDE concentrations in air and soil were 7.13 ± 1.66 pg m-3 and 168 ± 57 pg g-1, respectively. The fully brominated BDE-209 was the most abundant congener observed in soil (174.8 ± 58.5 pg g-1), comprising ~ 96% of ∑10PBDE. However, the PAS-derived air concentrations for highly brominated congeners must be viewed with caution as there is uncertainty over the uptake rates of particle-bound chemicals using these devices. Some of the highest concentrations in air were observed at sites with the highest wind speeds and at several remote locations in the north of the country and this requires further research. Levels of BDE-47 and 99 (the two most abundant congeners in the widely used penta-formulation) were lower than levels reported elsewhere suggesting limited use/import of the penta-BDE formulation in Azerbaijan.

• Klíčová slova
• Distribution, Flame retardants, Passive air sampler, Sources,
• MeSH
• halogenované difenylethery analýza   MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu analýza   MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch analýza   MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí MeSH
• pesticidy analýza   MeSH
• polyurethany analýza   MeSH
• půda chemie   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Ázerbájdžán MeSH
• Názvy látek
• 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether MeSH Prohlížeč
• decabromobiphenyl ether MeSH Prohlížeč
• halogenované difenylethery MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch MeSH
• pesticidy MeSH
• polyurethane foam MeSH Prohlížeč
• polyurethany MeSH
• půda MeSH

PBDEs (10 congeners) were analyzed using GC-MS in superficial sediments and organisms of the Concepción Bay after the 2010 Tsunami. From all congeners analyzed PBDE-47, -99, -100 and -209 were the most frequently detected. Concentrations (ngg(-1) d.w.) in sediments for ΣPBDE-47, -99, -100 were low (0.02-0.09). However, PBDE-209 showed significantly higher values ∼20ngg(-1) d.w. This result were ∼10 times lower than those reported in a previous study of the 2010 Tsunami. The high result might be influenced by the massive urban debris dragged by the 2010 Tsunami. In organisms, concentrations of PBDE-47, -99, -100 (∼0.4ngg(-1) d.w.) were higher than those found in sediments (∼0.04ngg(-1) d.w.). Differences in PBDE pattern were also observed between different levels of the trophic food chain (primary and secondary consumers). This is the first attempt to assess the current status of Concepción Bay after the 2010 Tsunami.

• Klíčová slova
• 2010 Tsunami, Concepción Bay, Food chain, PBDE-209, Sediments,
• MeSH
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu analýza   MeSH
• halogenované difenylethery analýza   MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí * MeSH
• plynová chromatografie s hmotnostně spektrometrickou detekcí MeSH
• tsunami * MeSH
• zátoky chemie   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Chile MeSH
• Názvy látek
• 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether MeSH Prohlížeč
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu MeSH
• halogenované difenylethery MeSH

Many legacy and emerging flame retardants (FRs) have adverse human and environmental health effects. This study reports legacy and emerging FRs in children from nine European countries from the HBM4EU aligned studies. Studies from Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, France, Greece, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Norway conducted between 2014 and 2021 provided data on FRs in blood and urine from 2136 children. All samples were collected and analyzed in alignment with the HBM4EU protocols. Ten halogenated FRs were quantified in blood, and four organophosphate flame retardants (OPFR) metabolites quantified in urine. Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) were infrequently detected (<16% of samples). BDE-47 was quantified in blood from Greece, France, and Norway, with France (0.36 ng/g lipid) having the highest concentrations. BDE-153 and -209 were detected in <40% of samples. Dechlorane Plus (DP) was quantified in blood from four countries, with notably high median concentrations of 16 ng/g lipid in Slovenian children. OPFR metabolites had a higher detection frequency than other halogenated FRs. Diphenyl phosphate (DPHP) was quantified in 99% of samples across 8 countries at levels ∼5 times higher than other OPFR metabolites (highest median in Slovenia of 2.43 ng/g lipid). FR concentrations were associated with lifestyle factors such as cleaning frequency, employment status of the father of the household, and renovation status of the house, among others. The concentrations of BDE-47 in children from this study were similar to or lower than FRs found in adult matrices in previous studies, suggesting lower recent exposure and effectiveness of PBDE restrictions.

• Klíčová slova
• Children, Europe, HBM4EU, Human biomonitoring, Organophosphate flame retardants, Polybrominated diphenyl ethers,
• MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• halogenované difenylethery MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lipidy MeSH
• retardanty hoření * MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH
• Názvy látek
• 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether MeSH Prohlížeč
• halogenované difenylethery MeSH
• lipidy MeSH
• retardanty hoření * MeSH

The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence and bioaccumulation of new flame retardants (nBFRs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and dechlorane plus (DDC-CO) in the marine environment close to an Arctic community. Passive sampling of air and water and grab sampling of sediment and amphipods was used to obtain samples to study long-range transport versus local contributions for regulated and emerging flame retardants in Longyearbyen, Svalbard. BDE-47 and -99, α- and β-tetrabromoethylcyclohexane (DBE-DBCH), syn- and anti-dechlorane plus (DDC-CO) were detected in all investigated matrices and the DDC-COss at higher concentrations in the air than reported from other remote Arctic areas. Water concentrations of ΣDDC-COSs were low (3 pg/L) and comparable to recent Arctic studies. ΣnBFR was 37 pg/L in the water samples while ΣPBDE was 3 pg/L. In biota, ΣDDC-COSs dominated (218 pg/g ww) followed by ΣnBFR (95 pg/g ww) and ΣPBDEs (45 pg/g ww). When compared with other areas and their relative distribution patterns, contributions from local sources of the analysed compounds cannot be ruled out. This should be taken into account when assessing long-range transport of nBFRs and DDC-COs to the Arctic. High concentrations of PBDEs in the sediment indicate that they might originate from a small, local source, while the results for some of the more volatile compounds such as hexabromobenzene (HBBz) suggest long-range transport to be more important than local sources. We recommend that local sources of flame retardants in remote areas receive more attention in the future.

• Klíčová slova
• Arctic, Atmospheric, Benthic amphipods, PBDE, Passive sampling, Water,
• MeSH
• Amphipoda MeSH
• brombenzeny analýza   MeSH
• chlorované uhlovodíky analýza   MeSH
• halogenované difenylethery analýza   MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí metody   MeSH
• polycyklické sloučeniny analýza   MeSH
• retardanty hoření analýza   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Arktida MeSH
• Svalbard MeSH
• Názvy látek
• 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether MeSH Prohlížeč
• brombenzeny MeSH
• chlorované uhlovodíky MeSH
• dechlorane plus MeSH Prohlížeč
• halogenované difenylethery MeSH
• hexabromobenzene MeSH Prohlížeč
• polycyklické sloučeniny MeSH
• retardanty hoření MeSH

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants. They were produced in relatively large volumes in the last century and are now subject to long-term monitoring and regulated under the United Nations Stockholm Convention (SC) on persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Though restricted, human exposure is still a concern and in some regions of the globe the information on the health risk is limited. Sixty breast milk samples from nursing mothers were collected between 2014 and 2015, residing in Bogota, Cartagena, and Medellin, which are industrialized cities in Colombia. This is the first comprehensive study to determine the concentrations in breast milk of PBDEs (n = 7), PCBs (n = 29), and OCPs (n = 28) in Colombia. The detection frequency of POPs, including BDE-47, CB-138, CB-153, CB-156, and CB-180, as well as several OCPs such as chloroneb, aldrins, HCHs, DDTs, and heptachlor, was found to be 100% in all samples tested. The mean concentrations of the analyzed legacy POPs were ∑3DDTs (423 ng/g lw) > chloroneb (50.1 ng/g lw) > ∑2permetrins (17.5 ng/g lw) > ∑2aldrins (16.7 ng/g lw) > 29 PCBs (15.04 ng/g lw) > ∑2chlordanes (CHLs) (11.2 ng/g lw) ≈ ∑3endosulfans (11.1 ng/g lw) > ∑2heptachlors (2.43 ng/g lw) > 7PBDEs (2.1 ng/g lw) > ∑4HCHs (0.58 ng/g lw). The results of this study suggest that the concentrations of DDTs were present in breast milk samples from Colombia at levels comparable to those found in previous studies conducted in other countries such as Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, and various Asian countries. The concentrations of PBDE and PCB congeners, as well as many pesticides, were found to be significantly correlated with each other. This suggests that these substances may have similar sources of exposure. The strength of the pair correlation among concentrations of POPs was assessed using Spearman's correlation coefficients, which varied from r = 0.62 for the association between BDE-47 and CB-153, to a high correlation of 0.99 for the correlation between γ-Chlordane and heptachlor. This suggests that these POPs may share similar sources, such as diet. An exposure assessment model obtained by Monte Carlo simulation showed that infants were exposed to low concentrations of POPs with exception of p,p'-DDE and Aldrin, in which 25th, 50th and 95th percentiles were greater than the threshold reference values of non-carcinogenic effects suggested by US-EPA regulations while the 90th percentile of pg TEQ/Kg-bw/day for dl-PCBs was above of the tolerable daily intake (TDI) proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Therefore, the health risk of infants exposed to OCPs and dl-PCBs should be exanimated continually through biomonitoring programs in the Colombian population.

• Klíčová slova
• Hazard quotient, Monte Carlo simulation, OCPs, Organochlorine pesticides, PBDEs, PCBs, Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, Polychlorinated biphenyls, breast milk, exposure assessment, toxic equivalent,
• MeSH
• chlorované uhlovodíky * analýza   MeSH
• dichlordifenyldichlorethylen MeSH
• halogenované difenylethery analýza   MeSH
• heptachlor MeSH
• hodnocení rizik MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• látky znečišťující životní prostředí * analýza   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mateřské mléko chemie   MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí MeSH
• pesticidy * analýza   MeSH
• polychlorované bifenyly * analýza   MeSH
• Check Tag
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Kolumbie MeSH
• Názvy látek
• 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether MeSH Prohlížeč
• 2,4,5,2',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl MeSH Prohlížeč
• chloroneb MeSH Prohlížeč
• chlorované uhlovodíky * MeSH
• dichlordifenyldichlorethylen MeSH
• halogenované difenylethery MeSH
• heptachlor MeSH
• látky znečišťující životní prostředí * MeSH
• pesticidy * MeSH
• polychlorované bifenyly * MeSH

In this study, 10 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and 19 alternative halogenated flame retardants (AFRs) were determined in >450 human milk samples across three European countries, representing northern, western and eastern Europe. This study provides first insights into the occurrence of selected AFRs in mother milk samples and compares them among three European countries. Sums of median concentrations of the most frequently detected PBDEs were 2.16, 0.88 and 0.45ngg-1 lipid weight (lw) in Norway, the Netherlands and Slovakia, respectively. The sum of the concentrations of AFRs ranged from 0.14 to 0.25ngg-1lw in all countries, which was 2 to 15 times less compared to Σ7PBDEs. The Penta-BDE replacement, bis(2-ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate, BEH-TEBP, was present at the greatest concentrations of any of the AFRs and in some samples exceeded concentrations of BDE 47 and BDE 153. Four AFRs including bromobenzenes (hexabromobenzene, pentabromobenzene, pentabromotoluene) and another Penta-BDE replacement (2-ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate, EH-TBB) were detected in >42% of all human milk samples. Because of the potential developmental neurotoxicity of the halogenated flame retardants, infant dietary intakes via breastfeeding were estimated; in four cases the intakes of BDE 47 exceeded the reference dose indicating that the present concentrations may pose a risk for children.

• Klíčová slova
• Alternative flame retardants, Developmental neurotoxicants, Human milk, Infant exposure, Polybrominated diphenyl ethers,
• MeSH
• brombenzeny analýza   MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• halogenace MeSH
• halogenované difenylethery analýza   MeSH
• kojení MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mateřské mléko chemie   MeSH
• retardanty hoření škodlivé účinky   analýza   MeSH
• zdraví dítěte * MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH
• Nizozemsko MeSH
• Norsko MeSH
• Slovenská republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether MeSH Prohlížeč
• brombenzeny MeSH
• halogenované difenylethery MeSH
• retardanty hoření MeSH