Temporal trends of legacy and novel brominated flame retardants in sediments along the Rhône River corridor in France

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are anthropogenic compounds that ubiquitous in most manufactured goods. Few legacy BFRs have been recognised as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and prohibited since the 2000s. However, continue to be used despite growing concerns regarding their toxicity; they often referred novel (nBFRs). While environmental contamination due chlorinated POPs has extensively investigated, levels spatiotemporal trends of comparatively understudied. This study aims reconstruct temporal both at scale a river corridor. To this end, sediment cores were sampled from backwater areas four reaches along Rhône River. Age-depth models established for each them. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), (polybrominated diphenyl ethers - PBDEs, polybrominated PBBs hexabromocyclododecane HBCDDs) seven nBFRs quantified. Starting 1970s, decreasing trend was observed PCBs. Temporal revealed reached peak concentrations mid-1970s mid-2000s, stable by mid-2010s. Additionally, individual two orders magnitude lower than those BFRs. Their appeared environment 1970s 1980s. The these not decreased recent years. Thus, there is need comprehend sources, load, repartition environment, toxicity before reach hazardous levels.