Occurrence and distribution of tetrabromobisphenol A and its derivative in river sediments from Vaal River Catchment, South Africa

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) compounds have been widely added in a number of products to reduce their flammability. In the present study, the concentrations and distribution of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and its derivatives, i.e. tribromophenol dibromopropyl ether (TBPDBPE), tetrabromobisph...

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Main Authors: Tlou B. Chokwe, Jonathan O. Okonkwo, Mutshinyalo S. Nwamadi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2017-12-01
Series:Emerging Contaminants
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240566501730032X
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author Tlou B. Chokwe
Jonathan O. Okonkwo
Mutshinyalo S. Nwamadi
author_facet Tlou B. Chokwe
Jonathan O. Okonkwo
Mutshinyalo S. Nwamadi
author_sort Tlou B. Chokwe
collection DOAJ
description Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) compounds have been widely added in a number of products to reduce their flammability. In the present study, the concentrations and distribution of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and its derivatives, i.e. tribromophenol dibromopropyl ether (TBPDBPE), tetrabromobisphenol A bis-dibromopropyl ether (TBBPA BDBPE), tetrabromobisphenol A bis-allyl ether (TBBPA BAE) were investigated in sediment samples collected from the Vaal River catchment, South Africa. The results showed that all these pollutants were detected in sediments with TBBPA BAE being the most abundant contaminant. The TBBPA BAE concentrations ranged from 3.5 to 44.4 ng/g (mean 16 ng/g) while the concentration ranged from not detected (nd) to 2.4 ng/g (mean 0.6 ng/g), nd - 21.0 ng/g (mean 6 ng/g) and nd - 2.0 ng/g (mean 0.2 ng/g) for TBPDBPE, TBBPA and TBBPA BDBPE; respectively. Higher concentrations of these pollutants were found in sampling sites receiving effluents of wastewater treatment works (WWTWs) treating some industrial wastewater suggesting effluents might play an important role in the contamination of BFRs in the environment. Negative correlation between TBBPA and TBBPA BAE was observed implying different sources or environmental fates between these pollutants. Overall, the results showed a need for further studies to be undertaken in investigating the presence, fate and sources of alternative halogenated flame retardants in the environment.
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spelling doaj.art-a605c05c0b0b4d39aee647d44924eb842022-12-21T22:40:49ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Emerging Contaminants2405-66502017-12-013312112610.1016/j.emcon.2017.11.001Occurrence and distribution of tetrabromobisphenol A and its derivative in river sediments from Vaal River Catchment, South AfricaTlou B. Chokwe0Jonathan O. Okonkwo1Mutshinyalo S. Nwamadi2Rand Water Scientific Services, 2 Barrage Road, Vereeniging, 1930 South AfricaDepartment of Water, Environmental and Earth Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, 175 Mandela Road, Pretoria, 0001 South AfricaSpectra Analytical Facility, University of Johannesburg, Kingsway Road, Auckland Park, Johannesburg, 2006 South AfricaBrominated flame retardants (BFRs) compounds have been widely added in a number of products to reduce their flammability. In the present study, the concentrations and distribution of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and its derivatives, i.e. tribromophenol dibromopropyl ether (TBPDBPE), tetrabromobisphenol A bis-dibromopropyl ether (TBBPA BDBPE), tetrabromobisphenol A bis-allyl ether (TBBPA BAE) were investigated in sediment samples collected from the Vaal River catchment, South Africa. The results showed that all these pollutants were detected in sediments with TBBPA BAE being the most abundant contaminant. The TBBPA BAE concentrations ranged from 3.5 to 44.4 ng/g (mean 16 ng/g) while the concentration ranged from not detected (nd) to 2.4 ng/g (mean 0.6 ng/g), nd - 21.0 ng/g (mean 6 ng/g) and nd - 2.0 ng/g (mean 0.2 ng/g) for TBPDBPE, TBBPA and TBBPA BDBPE; respectively. Higher concentrations of these pollutants were found in sampling sites receiving effluents of wastewater treatment works (WWTWs) treating some industrial wastewater suggesting effluents might play an important role in the contamination of BFRs in the environment. Negative correlation between TBBPA and TBBPA BAE was observed implying different sources or environmental fates between these pollutants. Overall, the results showed a need for further studies to be undertaken in investigating the presence, fate and sources of alternative halogenated flame retardants in the environment.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240566501730032XBrominated flame retardantsTetrabromobisphenol A derivativesConcentrationsSedimentsVaal river
spellingShingle Tlou B. Chokwe
Jonathan O. Okonkwo
Mutshinyalo S. Nwamadi
Occurrence and distribution of tetrabromobisphenol A and its derivative in river sediments from Vaal River Catchment, South Africa
Emerging Contaminants
Brominated flame retardants
Tetrabromobisphenol A derivatives
Concentrations
Sediments
Vaal river
title Occurrence and distribution of tetrabromobisphenol A and its derivative in river sediments from Vaal River Catchment, South Africa
title_full Occurrence and distribution of tetrabromobisphenol A and its derivative in river sediments from Vaal River Catchment, South Africa
title_fullStr Occurrence and distribution of tetrabromobisphenol A and its derivative in river sediments from Vaal River Catchment, South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Occurrence and distribution of tetrabromobisphenol A and its derivative in river sediments from Vaal River Catchment, South Africa
title_short Occurrence and distribution of tetrabromobisphenol A and its derivative in river sediments from Vaal River Catchment, South Africa
title_sort occurrence and distribution of tetrabromobisphenol a and its derivative in river sediments from vaal river catchment south africa
topic Brominated flame retardants
Tetrabromobisphenol A derivatives
Concentrations
Sediments
Vaal river
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240566501730032X
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AT jonathanookonkwo occurrenceanddistributionoftetrabromobisphenolaanditsderivativeinriversedimentsfromvaalrivercatchmentsouthafrica
AT mutshinyalosnwamadi occurrenceanddistributionoftetrabromobisphenolaanditsderivativeinriversedimentsfromvaalrivercatchmentsouthafrica