Brominated Flame Retardants in the NW Atlantic Marine Food Web Abstract Seven species of teleost fishes comprising major prey of northwest Atlantic harbor seals were analyzed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). PBDE concentrations in whole fish

Seven species of teleost fishes comprising major prey of northwest Atlantic harbor seals were analyzed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). PBDE concentrations in whole fish samples (n=87) were compared with those measured previously in harbor seal blubber to evaluate the transfer of PBDEs from prey to predator. Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) concentrations were measured in three fish species to provide an initial estimation of HBCD contamination in this ecosystem. HBCD was detected in 87% of the fish samples at concentrations ranging from 2.4 to 38.1 ng/g, lw (overall mean 17.2 ± 10.2 ng/g, lw). ∑PBDE concentrations in fish ranged from 17.9 to 94 ng/g, lw (overall mean 62 ± 34 ng/g, lw). ∑PBDE concentrations in the harbor seals were two orders of magnitude higher than levels in the fish. Biomagnification factors (BMFs) from fish to seals averaged from 17 to 76, indicating that tetrato hexa-BDEs are highly biomagnified in this marine food web. BDE-47 was the dominant congener in all samples, suggesting exposure to the penta-BDE mixture. The presence of higher brominated congeners including BDE-209 at measurable levels in fish and seal tissue, along with the very high biomagnification of BDE-153, as well as -155, and -154, suggests recent exposure to the octaand deca-BDE formulations in this US coastal marine food web, as well as the additional contribution of BDE-209 debromination in fish to the loading of persistent PBDEs in the seals. This is the first study to report the occurrence of BDE-209 and other higher BDEs in commercially important marine fishes from the northwest Atlantic. Shaw et al. (2009) Science of the Total Environment 407: 3323– 3329. Background This study is the first to show that the brominated flame retardants PBDEs and HBCDs have contaminated top predators in the northwest Atlantic marine food web. These compounds leach out of consumer products such as furniture foam, textiles, electronics, and plastic casings for TVs and computers and are found at high levels in dust in homes and offices. PBDEs and HBCDs enter estuarine and coastal food webs from diffuse sources including households, industries, wastewater treatment plants and landfills. Whereas earlier studies have rarely measured the fully brominated Deca-BDE (BDE-209) in marine food webs, this study measured BDE-209 and other highly brominated BDEs in seven species of marine fish that are known harbor seal prey (silver hake, red/white hake, herring, flounder, plaice, alewife, and mackerel). Levels in the fish were compared with those measured in our previous study of PBDEs in harbor seal tissues (Shaw et al. 2008 Chemosphere). The findings have implications for human health, since many of these same fish are consumed by people.