Brominated Flame Retardants in Edible Fishes from Three Gorges Reservoir, China

Abstract

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) have attracted increasing attention in recent decades because of their persistence, distribution, bioaccumulation, and biotoxicity in the environment. In the present study, the levels and distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polybrominated biphenyl (PBBs) in twenty-four samples of twelve fish species collected from the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) were analyzed. The results indicated that ∑PBDE concentrations in fish muscle ranged from 22.62 pg g^-1 by wet weight (ww) (yellowcheek carp) to 217.75 pg g^-1 ww (yellow catfish). BDE47 and BDE209 were the most predominant congeners, with their sum accounted for 23.62–68.16% of ∑PBDEs. ∑PBB concentrations ranged from 27.83 pg g^-1 ww (silver carp) to 155.75 pg g^-1 ww (topmouth culter); BB49 and BB209 were detected in all samples, with concentrations ranging from 4.62 to 47.10 pg g^-1 ww and 1.29 to 80.95 pg g^-1 ww, respectively. There are no significant correlations between the BFRs levels and fish length (or weight) in these samples. Compared to other areas, the level of BFRs in edible fishes from TGR was low.