Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) have been found in Arctic wildlife, lake sediment, and air. To identify the atmospheric BFR deposition history on Svalbard, Norway, we analyzed 19 BFRs, including hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane (BTBPE), decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB),and 15 polybrominated diphenyl ether congeners (PBDE) in the upper 34 m of an ice core (representing 1953-2005) from Holtedahlfonna, the western-most ice sheet on Svalbard. All of the non-PBDE compounds were detected in nearly continuous profiles in the core. Seven PBDEs were not observed above background (28,47,66,100,99,154,153), while 4 were found in 1 or 2 of 6 segments (17,85,138,183). BDEs-49,71,190,209 had nearly continuous profiles but only BDE-209 in large amounts. The greatest inputs were HBCD and BDE-209, 910, and 320 pg/cm**2/yr from 1995-2005. DBDPE, BTBPE, and PBEB show nearly continuous input growth in recent core segments, but all were 75% of atmospheric flow to Holtedahlfonna coming from Eurasia during haze periods (March and April).
Surrogate recovery = 84 +/-37%. Background amounts in ng/l: PBDE-17 = 0.00523; PBDE-28 = 0.0139; PBDE-49 = 0.09717; PBDE-71 = 0.03591; PBDE-47 = 0.6106; PBDE-66 = 0.2122; PBDE- 100 = 0.21297; PBDE-99 = 1.285; BDE-85 = 0.0409; PBDE- 154 = 0.07193; PBDE- 153 = 1.499; PBDE- 138 = 0.01024; PBDE- 183 = 0.02746; PBDE- 190 = 0.00228; PBDE- 209 = 1.241; HBCD = 7.278; BTBPE = 0.0455; DBDPE = 0.895; PBEB = 0.00284. Data extracted in the frame of a joint ICSTI/PANGAEA IPY effort, see http://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.150150
Supplement to: Hermanson, Mark H; Isaksson, Elisabeth; Forsström, Sanja; Teixeira, Camilla; Muir, Derek C G; Pohjola, Veijo A; van de Wal, Roderik S W (2010): Deposition History of Brominated Flame Retardant Compounds in an Ice Core from Holtedahlfonna, Svalbard, Norway. Environmental Science & Technology, 44(19), 7405-7410