Temporal and spatial distribution of novel brominated flame retardants in atmosphere of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, China

The occurrence and spatio-temporal distribution of atmospheric novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) were studied across five sampling sites in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region over a whole year. By collecting samples (gas and particle) with a high-volume active air sampler (HV-AAS), nine NBFRs were analyzed and the sum concentrations ranged from 1.65 to 344 pg/m3, with the highest value found in the urban sampling site in Shijiazhuang City. Decabromodiphenylethane (DBDPE) was the predominant congener, which accounted for 60% of ∑9NBFRs on average, while it was 90% of ∑9NBFRs in the rural site and significantly higher than those observed in the urban sites (one-way ANOVA, p