IDENTIFICATION AND QUANTIFICATION OF POLYBROMINATED DIPHENYL ETHERS AND METHOXY-POLYBROMINATED DIPHENYL ETHERS IN BALTIC BIOTA

Polybrominated diphenyl others (PBDPEs) and, for the first time, metho xy-polybrominated diphenyl ethers (MeO-PBDPEs) have been positively id entified and quantified in various biotic samples including herring, s almon, seal, man (only PBDPEs), and commercial fish oils. The presence of these compounds was confirmed in the above samples by mass spectra and accurate mass determinations and verified by comparisons to gas c hromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) of available reference materia l. Concentrations were measured by GC-MS and found to vary from the lo w to moderate nanogram per gram of lipid range, with the highest level s in seal blubber and salmon muscle. Data for the studied samples sugg est that these compounds bioconcentrate. The presence of polychlorinat ed diphenyl ethers and methoxy polychlorinated diphenyl ethers was ind icated in a screened seal tissue. Potential environmental sources of t he MeO-PBDPEs are discussed.