PBDE Concentrations in Wastes from Construction and Demolition, Soft Furnishings, and End-of-Life Vehicles in Brazil.

Abstract

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been widely used in different consumer products and are a growing concern due to their persistence, bioaccumulation, and potential adverse health and environmental effects. This study reports the concentrations of PBDEs (BDE-28, -47, -99, -100, -153, -154, -183, -209) in 221 samples of construction and demolition (C&D), end-of-life vehicle (ELV), and soft furnishing waste in the metropolitan region of Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil. Furthermore, to assess the potential impact, the samples were classified according to the LPCL (Low POP Content Limit) values proposed by the Stockholm and Basel Conventions (1,000, 500, and 50 mg/kg). This classification enabled estimates of the mass of waste and PBDEs that may be entering the production cycle or being discarded uncontrolled in Brazil. PBDEs were detected in all samples analyzed. In particular, 35 samples exceeded 1,000 mg/kg, 21 from ELV waste and 14 from soft furnishings waste. Furthermore, 15 samples exceeded the 500 mg/kg threshold, and 40 samples exceeded 50 mg/kg. Based on these results, it is estimated that, annually, approximately 1,200 tons of solid waste in Brazil contain more than 1,000 mg/kg; 177 tons exceed 500 mg/kg; and approximately 15,930 tons exceed the 50 mg/kg limit. Regarding the congener profile, BDE-209 was the predominant, contributing an average of 52% of the total ΣPBDE mass, while BDE-153 was the least abundant, contributing just 1%. These findings underscore the importance of effectively addressing contamination of consumer articles with PBDEs and implementing measures to reduce human exposure to these compounds.