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

PBDEs are HOT contaminants!

P ersistent: long lived in the environment

PBDEs are HOT contaminants! P ersistent: long lived in the environment B ioaccumulative: transport through food webs

PBDEs are HOT contaminants! P ersistent: long lived in the environment B ioaccumulative: transport through food webs D ispersed: world-wide contamination in humans, animals, our food sources and environment

PBDEs are HOT contaminants! P ersistent: long lived in the environment B ioaccumulative: transport through food webs D ispersed: world-wide contamination in humans, animals, our food sources and environment E ndocrine disruptors: target the thyroid

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

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 pg/L Source: RMP

PBDEs range ng/g dry wt Distribution of PBDEs in SF Bay Sediments 2002 Source: RMP

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

Distributions of PBDEs in SF Bay Bivalves Source: RMP

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

Distributions of PBDEs in SF Bay Tern Eggs. Foresters 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) Br Atoms 10 Br Atoms (BDE-209)

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

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 9-10 Br Atoms 10 Br Atoms (BDE-209) 7-10 Br Atoms

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

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

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

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