TY - JOUR TI - Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in NY.NJ harbor and lower Delaware River Valley areas DO - https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3HQ400H PY - 2010 AB - Present dissertation is a compilation of several projects implemented at the disarmament of Environmental Science of Rutgers University under the supervision of Lisa A. Rodenburg. The goal of this work was to describe the fate and transport of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in North-East region of the United States. Chapter 1 of this dissertation outlines background information on PBDEs, their occurrence history and environmental and health problems associated with them. Chapter 2 analyzes atmospheric (particle, gas and rain) levels of PBDEs in NY/NJ Harbor. Atmospheric levels of BDEs in this region fall into the range of the values reported by other studies in US and around the world. Chapter 3 reveals high water column levels of PBDEs in Raritan Bay of NY/NJ harbor (relative to other aquatic systems in US and around the world) concluding that atmospheric deposition is not the main source of BDEs in the NY/NJ Harbor. Dry particle and wet deposition fluxes, as well as annual load of BDEs, are estimated in this chapter. Chapter 4 deals with atmospheric levels of BDEs in lower Delaware River valley, obtained by passive air sampling (PAS) methodology. This is the first study that describes BDEs in this region. Overall, atmospheric levels of BDEs are correlated with temperature but mostly in gas phase rather than in particle phase. Overall, PBDE concentrations do not show significant relationship with population density. Although, some congeners (BDE 47) show stronger relationship with population density at NY/NJ harbor and lower Delaware River valley, than others (BDE 99 and BDE 209). Gas-particle partitioning is important aspect of PBDE removal from the environment and was investigated in this dissertation. Also, water column partitioning between truly dissolved and particle phases was analyzed. While heavy molecular weight congener BDE 209 was predominantly found in particle (air) and particulate (water) phases, light congener BDE 47 was predominantly detected in gas (air) and truly dissolved (water) phases, and therefore, being more inclined for long range transport in the environment. As a result, unlike gas phase congeners, particle phase BDE congeners show strong Penta-BDE (BDE 47 and BDE 99) and Deca-BDE (BDE 209) commercial mixture signature at these regions. KW - Environmental Sciences KW - Polybrominated diphenyl ethers--New York Harbor (N.Y. and N.J.)--Toxicology KW - Polybrominated diphenyl ethers--New York Harbor (N.Y. and N.J.)--Measurement KW - Polybrominated diphenyl ethers--Delaware River Valley (N.Y.-Del. and N.J.)--Toxicology KW - Polybrominated diphenyl ethers--Delaware River Valley (N.Y.-Del. and N.J.)--Measurement LA - eng ER -