Evaluation of bioaccumulation processes of brominated flame retardants in biotic matrices

The global reduction in the use of PBDEs and HBCD as flame retardants has opened the way for the introduction of “Novel” BFRs (NBFRs) in place of the banned formulations, indicating those BFRs that are new in the market or newly/recently observed in the environment in respect to PBDEs and HBCD. Consequently, consumption and production of these NBFRs will keep rising, and increasing environmental levels of these chemicals are expected in the near future. Important representatives of this group are decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy) ethane (BTBPE), hexabromobenzene (HBB), and pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB). In Italy, previous studies have shown that some BFRs (PBDEs) were measured at high concentrations in the Varese province due to the presence of a great number of textile and plastic industries, and particularly in the sediments of Lake Maggiore, where those facilities wastewaters are finally collected mainly through two lake tributaries (Bardello and Boesio). For these reasons, the present thesis has the aim to evaluate the presence, and the potential bioaccumulation and biomagnification processes of six different classes of BFRs (PBDEs, HBCD, DBDPE, BTBPE, HBB and PBEB) in the Lake Maggiore ecosystem, with particular regard to zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha), zooplankton, one littoral fish species (common roach - Rutilus rutilus), and two different pelagic species (twaite shad – Alosa agone and European whitefish – Coregonus lavaretus). Finally, the study has also considered the BFR contamination in the lake sediments with the aim of characterizing in detail the possible presence of temporal trends and/or identifying potential sources of contamination. Moreover, it is plausible that the BFR uptake by benthic organisms, followed by fish predation, might be a significant source of bioaccumulation.