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Occurrence and Risk Assessment of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Surface Water and Sediment of Nahoon River Estuary, South Africa
Summary
Researchers measured polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) — toxic flame retardants commonly added to plastics and electronics — in surface water and sediment of the Nahoon River estuary in South Africa. PBDE levels exceeded safety guidelines at some sites and varied seasonally, likely due to runoff patterns. These findings highlight plastic-associated chemical contamination as a significant pollution problem in South African coastal environments.
Abstract The concentrations, potential sources, and compositional profile of PBDEs in the surface water and sediment of Nahoon Estuary, East London, South Africa, were investigated with solid-phase extraction and ultra-sonication, respectively, followed by gas-chromatography-electron capture detection. The seasonal range of the contaminants’ concentrations in water and sediment samples in spring season were ƩPBDE 329 ± 48.3 ng/L (25.32–785 ng/L) and ƩPBDE 4.19 ± 0.35 ng/g dw (1.91–6.57 ng/g), but ƩPBDE 62.1 ± 1.50 ng/L (30.1–110 ng/L) and ƩPBDE 65.4 ± 15.9 ng/g dw (1.98–235 ng/g) in summer, respectively. NH1 (first sampling point) was the most contaminated site with PBDE in the Estuary. The potential source of pollution is attributed to the stormwater runoff from a creek emptying directly into the Estuary. This study's dominant PBDE congener is BDE- 17, ranging from below detection limit to 247 ng/L and 0.14–32.1 ng/g in water and sediment samples, respectively. Most commonly detected at all the sites were BDE- 17, 47, 66, and 100. Most BDE- 153 and 183 are found in sediment in agreement with the fact that higher brominated congeners of PBDE adsorb to solid materials. There was no correlation between the congeners and organic carbon and organic matter. However, the human health risk assessment conducted revealed that the PBDE concentration detected in the estuary pose low eco-toxicological risk. Nevertheless, constant monitoring should be ensured to see that the river remains safe for all the users, as it serves as a form of recreation to the public and a catchment to some neighbourhoods around the river.
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