Occurrence and trophic magnification of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and their methoxylated derivatives in freshwater fish from Dianshan Lake, Shanghai, China

In this study, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and methoxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (MeO-PBDEs) were analyzed in eleven freshwater fish species from Dianshan Lake, Shanghai, China. The highest concentrations of PBDEs and MeO-PBDEs were found in snakehead, with mean values of 38 ng g−1 lw and 4.2 ng g−1 lw, respectively. BDE-47 was the predominant congener of PBDEs, followed by BDE-154. Congener pattern variation of PBDEs was observed among different fish species, implying differences in biotransformation potential among fish. Yellow catfish showed highest concentrations of BDE-99, -153 and -183, suggesting that it is more resistant to debromination than any other fish analyzed in the present study. Trophic magnification factors were in the range of 1.35–1.81 for all the PBDE congeners, but not for 2′-MeO-BDE-68. Negative relationship was observed between PBDEs concentration and sample size (length and weight), indicating fish size dilution effect. [Display omitted] •Contamination of PBDEs and MeO-PBDEs in fish from Dianshan Lake was in the median to low range in the world.•Yellow catfish is more resistant to debromination of PBDEs than any other fish.•Trophic magnification was observed for all target PBDE congeners except for 2’-MeO-BDE-68.•Negative relationship was observed between PBDEs concentration and sample size, indicating fish size dilution effect. Trophic magnification was observed for all target PBDE congeners, but negligible for MeO-PBDEs.