Congener-specific accumulation and environmental risk assessment of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in diverse Korean sewage sludge types

  • Hyo Jin Lee
  • , Chang Joon Kim
  • , Gi Hoon Hong
  • , Sang Hee Hong
  • , Won Joon Shim
  • , Gi Beum Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Industrial, domestic wastewater, and livestock sludge samples were collected from 23 wastewater treatment plants in Korea and analyzed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The concentrations of Σ19PBDE ranged from 4.01 to 10,400 ng/g dry weight. The average Σ19PBDE concentrations in industrial, domestic wastewater, and livestock sludge were 1,560 ± 3,610, 402 ± 148, and 27.6 ± 50.4 ng/g dry weight, respectively. The composition of PBDEs differed according to the type of sludge. Among the PBDE congeners, BDE 209 was dominant in all sludge samples. After BDE 209, relatively high levels were found for BDE 28 and 47 from industrial sludge, BDE 47 and 99 from domestic wastewater sludge, and BDE 206, 207, and 208 from livestock sludge. Using hierarchical cluster analysis, sludges were divided into three groups according to PBDE congener composition. A risk assessment of PBDEs in sludge used for soil amendment was carried out. Preliminary results indicated that the potential risk of soil exposed to PBDEs in sludge was relatively low.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)7480-7488
Number of pages9
JournalEnvironmental Science and Pollution Research
Volume21
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Domestic wastewater sludge
  • Industrial sludge
  • Livestock sludge
  • PBDEs
  • Risk assessment

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Congener-specific accumulation and environmental risk assessment of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in diverse Korean sewage sludge types'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this