Emerging Contaminants – Investigating Brominated Flame Retardant Levels in Soil and Sediment from Fiji Islands

No scientific data is available on emerging contaminants like brominated flame retardant (BFRs) including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polybrominated biphenyl (BB 153) levels in the abiotic environment of Fiji Islands. Concentrations of PBDEs and BB 153 were determined in soil and sediment from various land-use types from Fiji Islands. Generally, total concentrations of PBDEs and BB 153 was <10 ng g -1 dwt, indicative of a relatively “low contaminated” environment. Total PBDE and BB 153 concentrations ranged from 300 2700 pg g -1 dwt and 0.1 -14 pg g -1 dwt, respectively. Noticeably, BDE 209 and 47 were typically the dominating congeners (up to 75% and 35% contribution to sum BDE, respectively). Comparatively higher levels of PBDE 209 and PBDE 47 were found near open dump sites within the vicinity of urban and industrial land-use areas. The presence of BB 153 in all soil and sediment samples and its correlation to BDEs in soil samples may indicate sources from some local anthropogenic activity.