Development of Spatially Differentiated Multimedia Environmental Fugacity Model to Simulate Fate of Decabromodiphenyl Ether in China.

The concentration levels and emissions of synthetic chemicals are dependent on the geographical locations. It is of importance to develop multimedia environmental fugacity models with spatial differentiation, since the models can accurately predict multimedia environmental fate of chemicals. In this study, based on the regional environmental properties of China, a level III multimedia environmental fugacity model with spatial resolution of 50 km x 50 km was developed. A flame retardant decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) was selected for the case study. Distribution of BDE-209 in the multimedia environment in China was predicted. The model predicted that concentrations of BDE-209 were high in air and soil in the eastern regions of Shanghai, Shandong and Guangdong; as well as in water and sediments in the central and western regions of Shaanxi and Shanxi. The average concentrations of BDE-209 in air, water, soil and sediments were predicted to be 2.02 x 10^-6 µg⋅m^-3, 6.64 x 10^-6 µg⋅m^-3, 1.93 µg⋅kg^-1 and 3.65 x 10 µg⋅kg^-1, respectively. Soil and sediments are the main sink of BDE-209, accounting for 98.65% of the total mass in the simulated region. The multimedia environmental fugacity model with spatial differentiation characteristics is suitable for fate simulation of persistent toxic chemicals in China, which is beneficial to the prediction and management of chemical risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]