Soil Pollution with Polybromodiphenyl Ethers in Impact Zones

The article presents the first results on studying polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)—a group of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which have been used as flame retardants in various products since the 1970s—in soils of Belarus. These substances could enter the environment during production processes and at various stages of management of materials and waste containing them. Currently, PBDEs are found in all components of the natural environment and pose a threat to living organisms. The purpose of this work is to estimate the PBDEs content in soils in areas of the most likely sources of exposure in Belarus. Samples of technogenic soils (Technosols) in impact zones and natural soddy-podzolic soils (Albic Glossic Retisols) in background areas were collected and analyzed. The determination of PBDEs was performed in 106 samples using gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection. PBDEs were detected in 24% of soil samples; their maximum content reached 2370 μg/kg. PBDEs were found in soils near enterprises producing composite polymer materials, TV sets, monitors, computing and household appliances, special fabrics, machines and instruments, as well as near disposal and recycling sites for waste from electronic and electrical equipment. Decabromodiphenyl ether predominates among PBDEs. The obtained results are comparable with data for other countries and analogous sources of pollution. The need to continue research with a denser grid of soil sampling and identification of hot spots, as well as studying their behavior in various landscape geochemical conditions, is discussed.