Brominated flame retardants in marine environment focused on aquaculture area: Occurrence, source and bioaccumulation

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs), including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), and hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs), were investigated in bivalve (i.e., oyster (Crassostrea gigas) and mussel (Mytilus coruscus)), sediment, and seawater samples collected from aquaculture areas in South Korea to identify their occurrence, sources, and bioaccumulation. Among the studied chemicals, HBCDs predominated in bivalves and sediment, with concentrations of ND–67.52ng/g lipid weight and 3.47–168ng/g dry weight, respectively, while TBBPA was the highest contributor in seawater (ND–2.79ng/L). Compared with a non-aquaculture area, HBCD and PBDE concentrations were significantly higher in all matrices in the aquaculture area (Mann–Whitney U test, p