POLYBROMINATED DIPHENYL ETHERS (PBDE) AS PERSISTENT CONTAMINANTS: ORIGIN, BEHAVIOR IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND ANALYTICAL STRATEGIES

Flame retardants are substances mixed with numerous materials to inhibit the combustion process, reducing risks and damages caused by fires. Among these substances, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been widely used for decades due to their low cost and high efficiency. However, since they are mixed and not chemically bonded to the materials, PBDEs can be released over time being transported through numerous pathways until they reach soils and aquatic systems, where they can accumulate in sediments and biota. Due to their high chemical stability, an essential feature for flame retardants, they are considered persistent contaminants. Several studies report the presence of PBDEs in atmospheric and aquatic particulate matter, sediments, soils and biological matrices such as marine animals, tissues and human fluids. In Brazil, little is known about the use and commercialization of PBDEs, as well as their levels in different environmental compartments. Thus, this review provides an overview of the origin of PBDEs in the environment as well as information inherent to the understanding of the behavior and presence of this contaminants of recent interest in different environmental compartments. Finally, the manuscript also brings state-of-the-art analytical approaches used for environmental sampling, preservation, preparation and sample analysis.

阻燃剂（Flame Retardants）是一类与多种材料复配使用的物质，用于抑制燃烧进程，降低火灾引发的风险与损失。其中，多溴二苯醚（Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers, PBDEs）因成本低廉、阻燃效率优异，已被广泛应用数十年。然而，由于PBDEs仅通过物理复配而非化学键合与基材结合，其会随时间逐步释放，并通过多种迁移途径最终进入土壤与水生环境，进而在沉积物及生物体内富集。作为阻燃剂的核心特性之一，PBDEs具备极高的化学稳定性，因此被归类为持久性污染物。多项研究已在大气与水生颗粒物、沉积物、土壤以及海洋生物、组织样本、人体体液等生物基质中检出PBDEs。在巴西，学界对PBDEs的使用、商业化情况及其在不同环境介质中的含量水平尚缺乏足够认知。有鉴于此，本综述系统梳理了PBDEs在环境中的来源，并详细阐述了这类近年受关注的污染物在不同环境介质中的赋存状态与迁移行为相关信息。此外，本文还涵盖了当前用于环境样品采集、保存、前处理及分析的前沿分析技术。