Association of ethylene dibromide (EDB) with mature cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) fruit

Ethylene dibromide (EDB), a potential carcinogen, has been used in gasoline mixtures to avoid the accumulation of metallic lead in engines. Ethylene d ibromide is present in the environment and in groundwater. Previous analysi s has shown that EDB levels have reached up to 16 mug L-1 in the groundwate r at two fuel spill plumes in the vicinity of the Massachusetts Military Re servation (MMR) Base and up to 1.69 mug L-1 in the Coonamessett and Quashne t; Rivers in Cape God, MA (U.S. Air Force IRP, Fact Sheet #98-10, 1998). Gr oundwater and river water from this area are used to flood some local cranb erry bogs for irrigation and harvesting of cranberry fruits. The potential sorption of EDB by cranberry fruits during harvest has caused concern but i nformation regarding its occurrence is not available. In this study, low le vels of EDB (0.04-0.15 mug kg(-1)) were found to be associated with cranber ry fruits that were exposed to EDB at levels ranging from 3 to 12 mug L-1 a t 10, 20, and 30 degreesC for up to 7 days. Rinsing EDB-exposed cranberry f ruits twice with deionized water or once with 0.01 M Nacl solution reduced the amount of EDB associated with the cranberry fruits by 65-72% to a level of 0.02 mug kg(-1). Therefore, the EDB most likely is associated with the water residue on the surface of the cranberry fruit rather than being absor bed into the flesh of the fruit during the EDB exposure.