An overview of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDs) in environmental media with focus on their potential risk and management in China

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 236; pp. 283 - 295
• Main Authors: Cao, Xianghui, Lu, Yonglong, Zhang, Yueqing, Khan, Kifayatullah, Wang, Chenchen, Baninla, Yvette
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2018
• Subjects: air; China; climate; coasts; diastereomers; dust; geographical variation; HBCDs; hexabromocyclododecane; human health; humans; infants; meat; occupational exposure; pollution; polystyrenes; risk; Risk assessment; Risk management; rivers; sediments; sewage sludge; soil; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; China; Risk management; HBCDs; Risk assessment; China
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.01.040

Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) are the subject of recent interest and potential risk assessment particularly in China due to its ubiquitous existence in a variety of environmental media. This paper reviews the recent studies conducted on HBCDs in different environmental media (air, soil, water, river sediment, sewage sludge, biota and daily food) in China. At the same time, human health risks via food and occupational exposure of HBCDs in production plants, expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS) plants were assessed. The review reveals that HBCDs levels of air, soil, sediment, sewage sludge, biota and food presented a geographical variation in the eastern coastal regions of China. There were many factors resulting in the variation, such as sampling sites, climate and analytical method. In terms of diastereoisomer, α-HBCD and γ-HBCD were the predominant diastereoisomers in air, soil, sediment, and sewage sludge. In the water, α-HBCD and γ-HBCD shared the major proportion to the total HBCDs. However, only α-HBCD was the predominant diastereoisomer in biota. With regard to human exposure pathway to HBCDs, food was the major route for human exposure to HBCDs, especially meat. In addition, soil and road dust were also important exposure pathways. Furthermore, workers and residents, especially infants in and around waste dumping sites and industrial areas are exposed to the highest HBCDs levels among all the populations studied thus far. HBCDs posed a potential threat to the environment and human health. Therefore, risk assessment and management have an important role to play in preventing and mitigating HBCDs risks. [Display omitted] •Integrated overview of HBCDs in different environmental media and daily food.•HBCDs levels in environmental media were characterized by regional differences.•Food was the major pathway for human exposure to HBCDs.•The people around waste dumping sites and industrial areas are exposed to the highest HBCDs levels.