Bioavailability of Decabromodiphenyl Ether to the Marine Polychaete Nereis Virens

Publication Date

4-1-2010

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The flame retardant decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE 209) accumulates in humans and terrestrial food webs, but few studies have reported the accumulation of B DE 209 in aquatic biota. To investigate the mechanisms controlling the bioavailability of BDE 209. a 28-d bioaccumulation experiment was conducted in which the marine polychaete worm Nereis Wrens was exposed to a decabromodiphenyl ether (deca-BDE) commercial mixture (>85% BDE 209) in spiked sediments, in spiked food, or in field sediments. Bioaccumulation from spiked substrate with maximum bioavailability demonstrated that BDE 209 accumulates in this species. Bioavailability depends on the exposure conditions, however, because BDE 209 in field sediments did not accumulate (<0.3 ng/g wet weight; 28-d biota-sediment accumulation factors [BSAFs] <0.001). When exposed to deca-BDE in spiked sediments also containing lower brominated congeners (a penta-BDE mixture), bioaccumulation of BDE 209 was 30 times lower than when exposed to deca-BDE alone. Selective accumulation of the lower brominated congeners supports their prevalence in higher trophic level species. The mechanisms responsible for limited accumulation of BDE 209 may involve characteristics of the sediment matrix and low transfer efficiency in the digestive fluid.

Publication Title

Environmental Toxicology And Chemistry

Volume

29

Issue

4

First Page

860

Last Page

868

DOI

10.1002/etc.103

Publisher Policy

no archiving allowed

This document is currently not available here.

Find in your library

Share

COinS