Influence of water quality parameters on occurrence of polybrominated diphenyl ether in sediment and sediment to biota accumulation

► PBDEs contamination in sediment was significantly affected by NH3-N, pH, and DO. ► The BSAF in fish showed a parabolic trend from low- to high-brominated BDEs. ► Fish easily accumulated BDE-47, -100, -119, -126, and -154 from sediment. ► The BSAF decreased in the following order: PeBDE > HxBDE > TeBDE > other BDEs. ► The feeding habit of fish species is a critical factor affecting PBDE accumulation.