Distribution characteristics and potential risks of polybrominated biphenyl ethers on total suspended particulate matter and PM 2.5 in the atmosphere of Kunming City
To investigate the environmental behavior of PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) in the atmosphere of Kunming, in March 2014, atmospheric TSP (total suspended particulate matter) and PM2.5 samples were collected from 8 sampling points in Kunming, and 13 homologues of PBDEs attached to them were measured using GC-MS technology, Furthermore, the distribution characteristics and potential risks of PBDEs on TSP and PM2.5 were analyzed. The results showed that the concentration of ∑ PBDE attached to TSP (total mass concentration of polybrominated diphenyl ethers) ranged from 21.10 to 175.00 pg/m3, while the concentration of ∑ PBDE attached to PM2.5 ranged from 17.50 to 149.00 pg/m3, accounting for approximately 35.31% to 85.14% of the ∑ PBDE concentration in TSP, Moreover, high brominated homologues (BDE-138~BDE-209) are more likely to adhere to PM2.5 than low brominated homologues (BDE-17~BDE-99), accounting for approximately 8.50%~61.60% of the concentration of ∑ PBDE. The potential impact on PBDEs in atmospheric particulate matter and the evaluation of air inhalation exposure doses indicate that the DEDay (respiratory daily exposure) of PBDEs in adults and children ranges from 5.28 to 43.75 and 6.90 to 57.23 pg/(kg · d), respectively, The TDI (total daily intake) ranges from 114.78 to 951.09 and 150.00 to 1244.13 pg/(kg · d), respectively, far below the minimum harmless level [1 mg/(kg · d)] The TDI of BDE-99 is 11.09~72.39 and 14.35~94.57 pg/(kg · d), respectively, which are lower than the minimum intake level [260 pg/(kg · d)]. Studies have shown that PBDEs on atmospheric TSP and PM2.5 in Kunming do not pose a health risk to humans