Predicting the bioavailability of sediment-associated polybrominated diphenyl ethers using a 45-d sequential Tenax extraction

► The fraction of very slow desorption predominates the desorbed PBDEs from sediments. ► Desorption of PBDEs decreases with increasing total organic carbon, aging time and log Kow. ► Frap of PBDE congeners decreases while Fvs increases with increasing with log Kow. ► Twenty four hours Tenax extraction offers more accurate estimation for bioavailability of PBDEs. ► The long-term bioavailability of nona- and deca-BDEs in sediment is very low.