Conventional and emerging halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) in sediment of Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region, East China

• Eight out of twelve HFRs were detected in the sediment from YRD.
• TBECH and TBPH were first reported in the Chinese marine environment.
• PBDEs, DBDPE and TBECH were the three predominant HFRs in the sediment.
• Spatial patterns may indicate that HFRs originated from the eastern region of China.

The occurrence and distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and eleven non-PBDE halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) were investigated through the collection of marine and river sediment from Yangtze River Delta (YRD), East China. Among them, PBDEs, decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) and 1,2-dibromo-4-(1,2-dibromoethyl)cyclohexane (TBECH) were the three predominant HFRs with the highest detection frequencies in the sediment. Significant correlation between PBDEs and DBDPE indicated that they may have the similar emission sources. The production and use of DBDPE is growing rapidly and comparable concentrations between PBDEs and DBDPE in YRD sediment may suggest that DBDPE will likely become one of the major HFRs emerging in the environment in China. Of the seven detected non-PBDE HFRs, this is the first time that TBECH was reported in the Chinese environment and its predominance and prevalence in the YRD may imply its extensive use in these areas.

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