A review of status of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) in China

•TBBPA levels are reviewed in China and made comparisons with other countries.•A few TBBPA hotspots in China are pointed out and discussed.•China is generally the most polluted region as affected by TBBPA.•Dust ingestion is the most important exposure route, and infants are the most affected groups.•Measures on regulative e-waste recycling operation and TBBPA production should be implemented.

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), a currently intensively used brominated flame retardant (BFR), is employed primarily as a reactive flame retardant in printed circuit boards but also has additive applications in several types of polymers. TBBPA is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant that is observed in both abiotic and biotic matrices. This paper summarizes and critically reviews the published scientific data concerning the current pollution status of TBBPA in China. To provide an indication of the seriousness of the pollution levels of TBBPA in China, the data are compared with available existing data from other countries of the world. According to the available data, the sources of TBBPA in China are mainly derived from the primitive e-waste dismantling, TBBPA manufacturing and processing of TBBPA-based materials. The most serious cases of TBBPA pollution in China are in Guiyu, Guangdong (primitive e-waste dismantling site) with concentrations of TBBPA reaching 66,010–95,040 pg m−3 in air, Shouguang, Shandong (TBBPA manufacturing site) with concentrations of TBBPA reaching 1.64–7758 ng g−1 dry weight in soil, and Chaohu Lake, Anhui (industry concentration site) with concentrations of TBBPA reaching 850–4870 ng L−1 in water. In general, China is the most polluted region as affected by TBBPA compared with other countries. The present review preliminarily reveals the research status of TBBPA in China.

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