Effects of river flooding on polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) levels in cows’ milk, soil, and grass

Lake, Iain R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4407-5357, Foxall, Christopher D., Fernandes, Alwyn, Lewis, Mervyn, Rose, Martin, White, Oliver and Dowding, Alan (2011) Effects of river flooding on polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) levels in cows’ milk, soil, and grass. Environmental Science & Technology, 45 (11). pp. 5017-5024. ISSN 0013-936X

Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)

Abstract

The first investigation into PBDE levels in food produced from flood-prone land on industrial river catchments was conducted. In August 2008 samples of cows' milk, along with grass and soil were taken from 5 pairs of flood-prone and control farms on the River Trent (Central UK). The sum of 7 BDE congeners (28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154, and 183) was calculated. Higher PBDE levels occurred in soil on flood-prone compared to control farms (median 770 vs 280 ng/kg dry weight). These higher levels were not reflected in the grass samples indicating that PBDE contamination on soils is not transferred efficiently to grass. This observation alongside the fact that cows on flood-prone farms spend time on non-flood-prone land and are fed substantial quantities of commercial feed are reasons why higher PBDE levels were not found in milk from flood-prone farms (median 300 vs 250 ng/kg fat weight). Similar BDE47/BDE99 ratios were observed in soil and grass samples compared to the PBDE product commonly used in the UK, indicating few differences in source-pathway transfer efficiencies between congeners. The BDE47/BDE99 ratio in the milk samples was greater than those in the grass and feed indicating differential food to milk transfer efficiencies between congeners.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Theme - ClimateUEA
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Environmental Social Sciences University of East Anglia Schools > Faculty of Science > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
Depositing User:	Rosie Cullington
Date Deposited:	28 Jun 2011 09:45
Last Modified:	09 Oct 2024 13:31
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/33076
DOI:	10.1021/es2007098

Actions (login required)

View Item