Occurrence and Health Risks of Halogenated Flame Retardants in Soils : Association with E-Waste Dismantling, Urbanization and Industrialization

Rapid urbanization and industrialization lead to high emissions and accumulation of halogenated flame retardants (HFRs), which seriously stress the health of the eco-environment. To explore the impacts of urbanization and industrialization on the occurrence and health risks of HFRs, the concentrations of HFRs including dechlorane plus (DP), short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in 209 surface soil samples from E-waste dismantling areas, industrialized and urban areas, rural areas, and background areas of Zhejiang Province, China were investigated. The concentrations of DP, SCCPs, PCBs, and seven PBDEs were in the ranges of below detection limit (BDL)–3.60 (mean = 0.14), BDL–1736.00 (mean = 111.00), BDL–15.00 (mean = 1.20), and BDL–25.00 (mean = 0.30) ng/g dw, respectively. The concentrations of BDE-209 were in the range of 0.16–648 ng/g dw. The average concentrations of HFRs were in the order of E-waste dismantling areas > industrialized and urban areas > rural areas > background areas, which indicated that industrialization and urbanization controlled the spatial distribution of HFRs. The SCCPs concentrations were significantly correlated with the gross industrial output value of cities in Zhejiang Province, thereby suggesting that the exact level of soil contamination by SCCPs can be predicted by local industrialization. The health risks of PCBs and PBDEs were at acceptable levels