Soil contamination by brominated flame retardants in open waste dumping sites in Asian developing countries

► PBDE levels in municipal dumping sites were higher than those in reference sites. ► HBCD levels in municipal dumping sites and reference sites were comparable. ► BDE-209 was the dominant PBDE congener, while γ-HBCD was the dominant isomer. ► Waste burning may be causing the elevated ratios of octa- and nona-BDEs, and α-HBCD. ► PBDE level and the TOC content of soils at dumping sites were not correlated.