Levels and distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in plant, shellfish and sediment samples from Laizhou Bay in China

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are potentially harmful and persistent environmental pollutants. PBDEs concentrations are reported in plant, shellfish and sediment samples collected from Chinese Laizhou Bay. The ∑11PBDE concentrations in plant and shellfish samples from Laizhou Bay were in the range of 70–5900 ng g−1 and 230–720 ng g−1 lipid, respectively. The ∑11PBDEs concentrations in river sediment intervals samples ranged from 1.3 to 1800 ng g−1 dry weight. Pearson correlation analyses were performed on concentrations of PBDEs congeners of different sediment sample intervals. There were significant positive correlations for BDE 28 and BDE 100 (r = 0.945, p < 0.01), BDE 47 and BDE 99 (r = 0.879, p < 0.01), BDE 153 and BDE 154 (r = 0.934, p < 0.01), nona-BDEs and BDE 209 (r > 0.934, p < 0.01). BDE 209 was the predominant congener in all analyzed samples, consistent with the fact that deca-BDE technical mixtures are the dominant PBDEs product in Laizhou Bay. Data showed that PBDEs should be considered as an increasing pollution problem in the Laizhou Bay region.