Biomaterial Database

Photolytic debromination of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE 209). 2004

Gunilla Söderstrom, and Ulla Sellström, and Cynthia A de Wit, and Mats Tysklind

Environmental Chemistry, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) are commonly used flame retardants. During the past years, concerns have increased due to their occurrence in the environment and humans. In general, the concentrations of lower brominated (tetra-penta) diphenyl ethers in biota exceed those of the most heavily used product, decabromodiphenyl ether (DecaBDE). In this study, the photolytic debromination of DecaBDE has been investigated in order to study the formation of lower brominated diphenyl ethers. The time course of photolysis of DecaBDE was studied in toluene, on silica gel, sand, sediment and soil using artificial sunlight and on the natural matrices (sediment, soil, sand) also using natural sunlight. DecaBDE was photolytically labile and formed debromination products in all matrices studied. Nona- to tetraBDEs were formed as well as some PBDFs. The half-lives in toluene and on silica gel were less than 15 min, and half-lives on other matrices ranged between 40 and 200 h. No differences were seen in the debromination pattern of BDE congeners sequentially formed in the different matrices or under different light conditions. However, the debromination rates were strongly dependent on the matrix with longer half-lives on natural matrices than artificial ones.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010647	Phenyl Ethers	Ethers that are linked to a benzene ring structure.	Diphenyl Oxide,Diphenyl Oxides,Diphenyl Ethers,Ethers, Diphenyl,Ethers, Phenyl,Oxide, Diphenyl,Oxides, Diphenyl
D010777	Photochemistry	A branch of physical chemistry which studies chemical reactions, isomerization and physical behavior that may occur under the influence of visible and/or ultraviolet light.	Photochemistries
D011075	Polybrominated Biphenyls	Biphenyl compounds which are extensively brominated. Many of these compounds are toxic environmental pollutants.	Polybromobiphenyl Compounds,Biphenyls, Polybrominated,Compounds, Polybromobiphenyl
D001966	Bromine	A halogen with the atomic symbol Br, atomic number 35, and atomic weight 79.904. It is a volatile reddish-brown liquid that gives off suffocating vapors, is corrosive to the skin, and may cause severe gastroenteritis if ingested.	Bromine-79,Bromine 79
D001969	Bromobenzenes	Derivatives of benzene in which one or more hydrogen atoms on the benzene ring are replaced by bromine atoms.
D005411	Flame Retardants	Materials applied to fabrics, bedding, furniture, plastics, etc. to retard their burning; many may leach out and cause allergies or other harm.	Fire Retardant,Fire Retardants,Fireproofing Agent,Fireproofing Agents,Flame Retardant,Agent, Fireproofing,Agents, Fireproofing,Retardant, Fire,Retardant, Flame,Retardants, Fire,Retardants, Flame
D006207	Half-Life	The time it takes for a substance (drug, radioactive nuclide, or other) to lose half of its pharmacologic, physiologic, or radiologic activity.	Halflife,Half Life,Half-Lifes,Halflifes
D012822	Silicon Dioxide	Transparent, tasteless crystals found in nature as agate, amethyst, chalcedony, cristobalite, flint, sand, QUARTZ, and tridymite. The compound is insoluble in water or acids except hydrofluoric acid.	Silica,Aerosil,Aerosil 380,Cristobalite,Quso G-32,Quso G32,Tridymite,380, Aerosil,Dioxide, Silicon,G32, Quso,Quso G 32
D013472	Sunlight	Irradiation directly from the sun.	Sunshine
D055768	Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers	Compounds that contain two halogenated benzene rings linked via an OXYGEN atom. Many polybrominated diphenyl ethers are used as FLAME RETARDANTS.	Brominated Diphenyl Ethers,Chlorinated Diphenyl Ethers,Fluorinated Diphenyl Ethers,Iodinated Diphenyl Ethers,PBDE Compounds,PBDEs,PCDE Compounds,PCDEs,Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers,Diphenyl Ethers, Brominated,Diphenyl Ethers, Chlorinated,Diphenyl Ethers, Fluorinated,Diphenyl Ethers, Halogenated,Diphenyl Ethers, Iodinated,Diphenyl Ethers, Polybrominated,Ethers, Brominated Diphenyl,Ethers, Chlorinated Diphenyl,Ethers, Fluorinated Diphenyl,Ethers, Halogenated Diphenyl,Ethers, Iodinated Diphenyl,Ethers, Polybrominated Diphenyl