US EPA

939352 

Journal Article 

Behavior of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) in the soil-plant system: Uptake, translocation, and metabolism in plants and dissipation in soil 

Huang, H; Zhang, S; Christie, P; Wang, S; Xie, M 

2010 

1 

Environmental Science & Technology
ISSN: 0013-936X
EISSN: 1520-5851 

44 

2 

663-667 

English 

20000822 

10.1021/es901860r 

http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es901860r
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Deca-bromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) is the major component of the commercial deca-BDE flame retardant. There is increasing concern over BDE-209 due to its increasing occurrence in the environment and in humans. In this study the behavior of BDE-209 in the soil-plant system was investigated. Accumulation of BDE-209 was observed in the roots and shoots of all the six plant species examined, namely ryegrass, alfalfa, pumpkin, summer squash, maize, and radish. Root uptake of BDE-209 was positively correlated with root lipid content (P < 0.001, R(2) = 0.81). The translocation factor (TF, C(shoot)/C(root)) of BDE-209 was inversely related to its concentration in roots. Nineteen lower brominated (di- to nona-) PBDEs were detected in the soil and plant samples and five hydroxylated congeners were detected in the plant samples, indicating debromination and hydroxylation of BDE-209 in the soil-plant system. Evidence of a relatively higher proportion of penta- through di-BDE congeners in plant tissues than in the soil indicates that there is further debromination of PBDEs within plants or low brominated PBDEs are more readily taken up by plants. A significant negative correlation between the residual BDE-209 concentration in soil and the soil microbial biomass measured as the total phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) (P < 0.05, R(2) = 0.74) suggests that microbial metabolism and degradation contribute to BDE-209 dissipation in soil. These results provide important information about the behavior of BDE-209 in the soil-plant system.