Spatial diastereomer patterns of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) in a Norwegian fjord

Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) is the third most used brominated flame retardant globally, and has been found widely distributed in the environment. The present study reports concentrations and spatial patterns of α, β and γ-HBCD in a contaminated Norwegian fjord. Intertidal surface sediment and selected species from the marine food web were sampled at five locations in increasing distance from a known point source of HBCD. All sediment and biota samples were analyzed for the three HBCD diastereomers by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC/MS). The results demonstrated a HBCD gradient with decreasing concentrations at increasing distance from the point source in sediment and sedentary species, but less so in the species with large feeding ranges. Mean concentrations of ΣHBCD at the closest/most remote locations relative to the point source were 9000/300 ng g− 1 TOC in sediment and 150/90 ng g− 1 lw in the species with largest feeding range (great black-backed gull). The HBCD diastereomer patterns were similar for each of the matrices (sediment, organisms) independent of distance from the source, indicating no difference in environmental partitioning between the diastereomers. However, the concentration ratio of diastereomers in each matrix ranged from 3:1:10 (α:β:γ) in the sediments to 55:1 (α:γ) in the highest trophic level species, suggesting diastereomer-specific bioaccumulation in the organisms.