Six Of The Sources Of Production Area Environment Hbcd And Its Impact On Human Health

HBCD has been produced in south coast area of Laizhou Bay, Shandong province in China, but little is known about the HBCD exposure level of environment and residents to these compounds. We set out to assess potential health risks of HBCD in south coast area of the Laizhou Bay by determining the concentrations of HBCD in soil, plants and human serum samples.A new method dedicated to trace level measurement ofα-,β-and y-HBCD (hexabromocyclododecane) diastereomers (C12H18Br6) in soil samples by accelerated solvent extraction-ultra performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ion source-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (ASE-UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) has been developed. Eight soil samples and twelve plant samples collected from this area were analyzed and all the three diastereomers could be consistently identified and quantified, indicating the presence of HBCD in local environment.ΣHBCD concentrations ranged from 2.80 to 23 849.20 ng/g (dry weight) in soil samples, and 1.40 to 6 477.50 ng/g (wet weight) in plant samples. Diastereomer ratios in soil and plant samples were both in normal distribution, and strong correlations between specific ratio of a-HBCD,β-HBCD and y-HBCD from individual plots were observed.ΣHBCD concentrations in 82 serum samples ranged from nd to 2702.50 ng/g lipid, the mean and median concentrations were 103.85 and 5.98 ng/g lipid, respectively, which were more higher than that reported in other countries. The y-HBCD was the predominant isomer in 44 samples, while a-HBCD play a dominant role in 26 samples. Female group had higher serum concentrations of HBCD compared to the male group, but there was no statistic significant difference. HBCD concentrations seem to have a positive correlation with the donor age but no statistic significant difference was observed.33% of their thyroid hormone level was not in the normal zone. The unnormal ratio in the group which has detected HBCD isomers was higher than that of the group which the HBCD concentrations were not detected, and statistic significant difference was observed. It seems human exposure to HBCD may increase the risk of unnormal thyroid hormone level.We found that the male/female sex ratio of live births in the local area has changed, more female baby were born. This phenomenon was more significant in the four villages which located near the BFRs factory, and statistic significant difference was observed. It showed the low male/female sex ratio of live births may have correlations with the high HBCD exposure level that has been observed in this study.