Seasonal variations and human exposure assessment of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in air of Xi'an

A high volume active air sampler was used to collect gaseous and particulate phase air samples in Xi'an from August 2008 to July 2009 to study the seasonal variations of atmospheric polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The total concentration of PBDEs (gas plus particle phase) ranged from 21.38 to 161.84 pg/m ³, with an average of 66.34 pg/m ³. The highest concentrations of atmospheric PBDEs were measured in winter, seasonal trends of PBDEs in particulate phase was similar to total suspended particulate (TSP), but PBDEs in gaseous phase had no significant seasonal variation. Partial correlation analysis showed that the total concentration and particle phase concentration of PBDEs positively correlated with air pressure, and negatively correlated with temperature. This indicates the atmospheric PBDEs concentration was mainly influenced by air pressure and temperature in Xi'an. The general population's inhalation exposure of PBDEs was calculated referencing BDE-99 inhalation human exposure assessment. The total intake of BDE-99 in normal children and adults in Xi'an was lower than the maximum allowable intake of 260 pg/(kg·d) proposed by De Winter-Sorkina.