Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and indicator polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in marine fish from four areas of China

The levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and indicator polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in marine fish from four areas of China (South China Sea, Bohai Sea, East China Sea, and Yellow Sea) using GC/NCI–MS and GC/ITMS, respectively. Total concentrations of eight PBDEs (BDE-28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154, 183 and 209) in all samples ranged from 0.3 ng g−1 ww (wet weight) to 700 ng g−1 ww, with median and mean values of 85 ng g−1 ww and 200 ng g−1 ww, respectively. BDE-209 and BDE-47 were the major congeners in all samples, contributing 54% and 19% to the total concentration, respectively. The sum of seven indicator PCB levels (CB-28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, and 180) ranged from 0.3 ng g−1 ww to 3.1 μg g−1 ww, with median and mean values of 6.4 ng g−1 ww and 398 ng g−1 ww, respectively. High contributions of CB-138 (32%) and CB-153 (25%) were found in all samples. In general, pollutants measured in this study were at high levels when compared with previous studies from other regions in the world. The relative abundance of BDE-209 may suggest that deca-BDE sources existed in studied area. And principal component analysis (PCA) showed that there were other PBDE sources in Yellow Sea. The pattern and PCA showed that PCB pollutions came from similar sources in the studied areas. In addition, concentrations of ∑7PBDEs (u/209) were strongly correlated with those of ∑7PCBs in all fish (r = 0.907, n = 44).

Research highlights
► PBDEs and indicator PCBs, determined in forty-four marine fish from four areas of China in this study, were at high levels when compared with previous studies from other regions in the world.
► The patterns and principal component analysis (PCA) showed that deca-BDE sources existed in four areas and PCB pollutions came from similar sources.
► In addition, concentrations of ∑7PBDEs (u/209) were strongly correlated with those of ∑7PCBs in all fish (r = 0.907, n = 44).