Using Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer Montanus) As A Biomonitoring Tool For PBDEs And Heavy Metals In E-waste Recycling Area

Abnormal ways of recycling Electronic waste (E-waste) will cause serious pollution to the environment. In the process of dismantling, Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) and heavy metals which are widespread in the electrical and electronics equipment will be released and enrich in the soil, water, air, plants, etc, which will affect the surrounding ecological environment. Wenling is a typical e-waste dismantling area in China. In this study, the PBDEs and heavy metals concentrations were detected in the tissues of Eurasian Tree Sparrow (muscle, intestine, stomach, heart, lung, skin, plumule, pluma) in Taizhou. By comparison with the gas samples, atmospheric deposition samples and soil samples, the feasibility of using Eurasian Tree Sparrow(Passer montanus) as a biomonitoring tool for PBDEs and heavy metals in E-waste recycling area were studied, which aimed to find a new method of environmental monitoring and provide data to establish a set of bioindicative screening and characterization methods for POPS. The main results are as follows:The mean ∑PBDEs concentration in Eurasian Tree Sparrows was 735.64 ng/g lw, with the range of 186.66～6846.10 ng/g 1w. The main congener was BDE 209, accounting for 69.2%-80.0%. The ∑PBDEs concentrations in the tissues of Eurasian Tree Sparrows followed the order below:pluma> plumule> intestine> muscle> lung> heart> skin. BDE 17, BDE 28, BDE 209 and EPBDEs showed significant differences among the tissues (P< 0.01). The ∑PBDEs concentrations in Eurasian Tree Sparrows from four sampling sites showed the following order: YGA> MLC> TSC> SH. Most of the PBDEs congners didn’t show significant differences. In male Eurasian Tree Sparrows, the higher brominated congeners concentrations were higher than those in lower brominated congeners, while the inverse order was found in female birds.The metals concentrations in Eurasian Tree Sparrows followed the order below:Zn> Mn> Cu> Pb> Cr> Ni> V> Sn> As> Co> Cd> Sb> Pd> Pt> Rh (P< 0.05).Among the tissues of Eurasian Tree Sparrows, the metals concentrations followed the order below:extracorporeal system> digestive system> respiratory system> muscular system (P< 0.05). Most of the metals in Eurasian Tree Sparrows from four sampling sites showed the following order:SH> TSC> YGA> MLC. The majority of metals in male birds showed higher concentrations than those in female birds.After analysis with SPSS, the following conclusions were drawn. For gas samples, the pluma of Eurasian Tree Sparrows coule be used as a biomonitoring tool for PBDEs, especially for lower brominated congeners. For atmospheric deposition samples, the intestine and stomach could be useful biomonitors for PBDEs and the pluma was the first choice to monitor Ni.