PBDEs, methoxylated PBDEs and HBCDs in Japanese common squid (Todarodes pacificus) from Korean offshore waters

Little information is available on the levels of brominated compounds found in biota from the Korean Peninsula. In this study, Japanese common squids (Todarodes pacificus) were analyzed for 38 polybrominated diphenyl ethers, two methoxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers and three stereoisomers of hexabromocyclododecane (α, β, and γ-HBCD) from the east and western coasts of the Korean Peninsula. Among 38 PBDEs, 10 PBDEs were detected and their total concentrations ranged from 21 to 292 ng/g lipid wt with a mean concentration of 108 ng/g lipid wt, while two MeO-BDEs and three isomers of HBCDs were detected in all samples. BDE47 showed the highest residual level, followed by BDE99, 154, 153, 28/33. Concentrations of PBDEs and MeO-BDEs were not significantly different between the both sides of the Korean Peninsula; however, HBCD concentrations were higher levels in the East/Japan Sea than the Yellow Sea, indicating that HBCD sources possibly exist in Japan.