• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.215-224
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• 2014

Objective: This study was carried out in order to determine the depositional characteristics of pine needles, pine bark, and soil used as a passive air sampler (PAS) for atmospheric polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Methods: All three media were sampled from the same site. The PBDE concentrations were analyzed by HRGC/HRMS, and the lipid contents were measured using the gravimetric method by n-hexane extraction. Results: The total PBDE concentration was the highest in soil (22,274.57 pg/g dry), followed by pine bark (20,266.39 pg/g dry), and then pine needles (7,380.22 pg/g dry). Pine needles contained the highest lipid contents (21.31 mg/g dry), whereas soil (10.01 mg/g dry), and pine bark (4.85 mg/g dry) contained less. There were poor correlations between lipid content and total PBDE concentrations in the media ($R^2$=0.8216, p=0.2814). Congeners BDE 47, 99, 183, 196, 197, 206, 207 and 209 showed peak concentrations. Among these, BDE 206, 207, and 209 are highly brominated PBDEs that exist as particulates in ambient air. They accounted for 81.2% [69.2 (pine needles) - 89.0% (tree bark)] of the concentration and therefore are noted as the main congener of the total PBDEs. Conclusions: It can therefore be concluded that for reducing error by improper sampling, the same species of media should be recommended for use as a PAS for atmospheric PBDEs due to the differences in depositional characteristics.