Determination of Nine Hydroxylated Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers and Forty Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Atmospheric Fine Particles by Precolumn Derivatization-GC-MS/GC

Environmental context: Hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OH-PBDEs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in PM2.5 can be toxic to humans and ecosystems, because they will show endocrine disrupting activity. It is thus important to understand the contamination level of PBDEs and OH-PBDEs in PM2.5. In this paper, a method has been applied to the analysis and separation of trace PBDEs and OH-PBDEs in PM2.5, in order to understand the pollution levels, migration and transformation of PBDEs/OH-PBDEs in PM2.5. In this study, we demonstrate a method for simultaneously analyzing 9 OH-PBDEs and 40 PBDEs existed in PM2.5. Quantitative analysis was conducted by using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) combined with a precolumn derivatization. To achieve accurate detection, the extraction solvents and cleanup condition were optimized. The working curves were obtained via dissolving standards in blank matrix extracts. The linear range of 9 OH-PBDEs was from 15 pg m-3 to 3875 pg m-3, and limits of detection and quantification ranged from 4.95 pg m-3 to 24.33 pg m-3 and 16.48 pg m-3 to 81.09 pg m-3, respectively. The linear range of 40 PBDEs was from 1.25 pg m-3 to 5000 pg m-3, and limits of detection and quantification ranged from 0.37 pg m-3 to 38.19 pg m-3 and 1.25 pg m-3 to 127.29 pg m-3, respectively. The results showed that the recoveries were in the range of 72.1%-104.7% and the relative standard deviations were less than 13.6%. This method was suitable for simultaneous analysis of PBDEs and OH-PBDEs in PM2.5 with the advantages of high sensitivity, time saving and easy operation. The applicability of the method has been successfully validated on atmospheric samples collected in Baoding, China. Six PBDEs and five OH-PBDEs were detected in all the samples. Among the detected PBDEs and OH-PBDEs, detection rate of BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100 and BDE-209 were relatively higher than that of others. The results indicated that the concentration of BDE-209 might be affected by the concentration of PM2.5.