Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been used as flame retardants in various building materials, plastic and other polymers, airplanes, electronics, etc. All or some of their congeners have been already banned in many countries, due to their persistency and adverse health effects. In this study, we are focusing on e-wastes as a source of emission of PBDEs in ambient air during reclamation processes. The ambient air particulate matter (PM) samples were collected at and near an e-waste reclamation site in Bangkok, Thailand. Results showed the presence of various homologues, viz: tri-, tetra-, penta-, hexa-, and hepta-PBDEs in both PM2.5 and total suspended particle (TSP) samples. The comparison of samples as a function of distance from the reclamation site indicated elevated levels of PBDEs in close proximity to the e-waste site. Interestingly, a shift in the congener pattern was observed with lower brominated PBDEs being more prevalent in nearby off-site samples as compared to the PM collected at the e-waste site. The total penta-PBDEs concentration is almost double in the e-waste site PM2.5 compared to the control site samples. For TSP, tetra, penta, and hepta-PBDEs congeners are at higher concentrations at the e-waste sites and its vicinity compared to reference sites. Overall, a clear trend can be observed indicating a debromination of PBDEs to more toxic tri and tetra congeners during the reclamation process and PBDEs are being translocated from treated materials to ambient air PM. BDE 30 is uniquely detected in our studies as a dominant final debromination product, that can be used as a marker of thermal e-waste activity. This work indicates potential hazards related to the reclamation of e-wastes and remediation of sites containing PBDEs. In particular, thermal treatment methods can lead to congener transformation and increased emissions of more toxic lower brominated congeners.

中文翻译：

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电子废物（电子废物）填埋场环境空气样品中的多溴联苯醚（PBDEs）

多溴二苯醚（PBDEs）已在各种建筑材料，塑料和其他聚合物，飞机，电子产品等中用作阻燃剂。由于它们的持久性和不良健康影响，所有或某些同类产品已在许多国家被禁止使用。 。在这项研究中，我们将重点放在回收过程中电子垃圾作为环境空气中多溴二苯醚排放的来源。在泰国曼谷的电子废物回收场及其附近收集了周围空气颗粒物（PM）样品。结果显示在PM2.5和总悬浮颗粒（TSP）样品中均存在各种同系物，即三，四，五，六和七溴二苯醚。样品与距填海场距离的函数关系比较表明，靠近电子垃圾场的多溴二苯醚水平升高。有趣的是，与在电子废物现场收集的PM相比，在附近的非现场样品中观察到同类溴化多溴二苯醚的更普遍，这是同类模式的转变。与对照位点样品相比，电子废物位点PM2.5中五溴二苯醚的总浓度几乎翻了一番。对于TSP，四价，五价和七价-PBDEs同类物在电子废物场所及其附近的浓度均高于参考场所。总体而言，可以观察到明显的趋势，表明在回收过程中多溴二苯醚脱溴为毒性更高的三和四同类物，多溴二苯醚正在从处理过的材料转移到环境空气PM中。BDE 30在我们的研究中被独特地检测为主要的最终脱溴产品，可以用作热电子废物活动的标志。这项工作表明了与回收电子废物和修复含多溴二苯醚场所有关的潜在危险。尤其是，热处理方法可能导致同类转化，并增加了毒性更高的低溴代同类物的排放。