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THE CONCENTRATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF POLYBROMINATED DIPHENYL ESTERS (PBDES) IN FISH FROM STREAMS OF THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION
Impact/Purpose:
The objective of this study is to determine the concentrations and distribution of PBDEs in fish from streams of the Mid-Atlantic Region after completion of method development. Since EMAP uses a statistical approach to sampling, we will be able to determine the statistical distribution of PBDEs in fish over a relatively large region, the Mid-Atlantic. This study will provide needed information on the occurrence, concentrations, and distribution of PBDEs in fish within the United States.
Description:
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are used in the United States as flame-retardants in a wide range of products including paints, plastics, textiles, and electronics. In contrast to other persistent organic pollutants such as such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (e.g., DDT), and dioxins, PBDE levels in the environment have increased exponentially over the past twenty years PBDEs are of environmental concern because they are highly lipophilic compounds, resistant to degradation, that can readily bioaccumulate. The toxicology of PBDEs is currently under investigation; however, available data suggests that some congeners are likely to be carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, and/or neurodevelopmental toxicants.
This project has two main immediate products: research into the methology for analyses of PBDE's and the assessment of contamination of fish collected from the MAIA EMAP Project. If the PBDE's are found at significant levels or are persistent; analyses of future samples for the Western EMAP Project could easily be modified to include the PBDE's along with the chlorinated pesticides and PCB's schedule for analyses. Future work for the LIPS-MACS project (Landscape Indcators for Stream Vulnerability to Pesticides and Toxic Substances) could also benefit from this research. Both task 6821 (EMAP) and 5448 (LIPS-MACS) are under GRPA 8.1.1 RA 8-005 and 8-013 rerspectively.