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Hexabromobenzene (HBB), pentabromotoluene (PBT), and pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB) are current-use brominated flame retardants (cuBFRs) which have been repeatedly detected in environmental samples. Since information on hydroxylated transformation products (OH-TPs) was scarcely available, the three polybrominated compounds were UV irradiated for 10 min in benzotrifluoride. Fractionation on silica gel enabled the separate collection and identification of OH-TPs. For more insights, aliquots of the separated OH-TPs were UV irradiated for another 50 min (60 min total UV irradiation time). The present investigation of polar UV irradiation products of HBB, PBT, and PBEB was successful in each case. Altogether, eight bromophenols were detected in the case of HBB (three Br 3 -, four Br 4 -, and one Br 5 -isomer), and nine OH-TPs were observed in the case of PBT/PBEB (six Br 3 - and three Br 4 -congeners). In either case, Br➔OH exchange was more relevant than H➔OH exchange. Also, such exchange was most relevant in meta - and ortho -positions. As a further point, and in agreement with other studies, the transformation rate decreased with decreasing degree of bromination. UV irradiation of HBB additionally resulted in the formation of tri- and tetrabrominated dihydroxylated compounds (brominated diphenols) that were subsequently identified. These dihydroxylated transformation products were found to be more stable than OH-TPs.

Sediments are known to be the ultimate sink for most pollutants in the aquatic environment. In this study, the concentrations of both legacy polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and alternative halogenated flame retardants (AHFRs) were measured in sediments samples from the Vaal River catchment. The concentrations of Σ 7 BDE-congeners ranged from 20 to 78 ng g −1 dry weight (dw) with BDE-209, -99, and -153 as the dominant congeners. The concentrations observed ranged from 9.4–56, 4–32, and 1–10.6 ng g −1 for BDE-209, -99, and -153, respectively. The concentrations of AHFRs, mainly contributed by decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) at approximately 95% of total AHFRs, ranged from 64 to 359 ng g −1 dw while the concentration of polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), mainly PBB-209, ranged from 3.3–7.1 ng g −1 dw. The ratios of AHFRs to PBDEs observed in this study were 0.76, 1.17, and 7.3 for 2-ethyl-1-hexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate and bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-tetrabromophthalate (EH-TBB & BEH-TEBP)/penta-BDE; 1,2-bis-(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy) ethane (BTBPE)/octa-BDE; and DBDPE/BDE209, respectively. These results indicate dominance of some AHFRs compared to PBDEs. Our results indicates that BDE-99 poses high risk (RQ > 1) while BDE-209 posed medium risk (0.1 < RQ < 1). Though the concentration of DBDPE was several orders of magnitude higher than BDE209, its ecological risk was found to be negligible (RQ < 0.01). Thus, more attention is required to regulate the input (especially the e-waste recycling sites) of brominated flame retardants into the environment.

We investigated the occurrence of halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), six novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) and dechlorane plus in air and soils on the eastern slope of Mt. Gongga on the eastern Tibetan Plateau. We detected all of the NBFR except bis(2-ethylhexyl)-tetrabromophthalate and pentabromoethyl benzene. NBFRs constituted the most prevalent group. BDE-28 and BDE-47 dominated among the PBDE congeners. Decabromodiphenyl ethane was detected at relatively high levels up to 171 pg/m3 and 1450 pg/g dry weight in air and soils, respectively; however, it appeared to be easily degraded in the environment. A general decreasing trend was observed among the HFR concentrations with increasing altitude, and this was due to the prominent contribution of source emissions over possible influence of environmental conditions. This study also suggests that HFRs are supplied to forest soils mainly in the form of precipitation and retained in the O horizon layers.

An analytical method was developed for the measurement of 18 novel halogenated flame retardants in house dust. Sample preparation was based on ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction and clean up with solid phase extraction (SPE). Sample extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) operated in electron capture negative ion (ECNI) chemical ionization mode. Baseline data from 351 fresh (active) dust samples collected under the Canadian House Dust Study (CHDS) revealed that five out of 18 target chemicals were present with detection frequencies higher than 90 %. Median (range) concentrations for these five compounds were as follows: 104 (<1.5–13,000) ng/g for 2-ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (EHTBB), 8.5 (<1.7–2390) ng/g for 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane (BTBPE), 10.2 (<1.7–430) ng/g for hexabromobenzene (HBB), 2.9 (<1.2–1410) ng/g for syn -dechlorane plus ( syn -DP) and 5.6 (<1.9–1570) ng/g for anti -dechlorane plus ( anti -DP). A comparison of two sampling methods in a subset of 40 homes showed significant positive correlations between samples of “active” dust and samples taken directly from the household vacuum cleaner for all target compounds having median values above their corresponding method detection limits (MDLs). In addition, the method was also applied to the analysis of the targeted compounds in National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standard reference material (SRM 2585, organic contaminants in house dust). Results from the current study could contribute to the potential certification of target chemicals in SRM 2585.

Because of the reduction in the use of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs), including 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy) ethane (BTBPE), decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), hexabromobenzene (HBB), and pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB), started to be marketed as alternatives to the banned formulations. In this study, the spatial distribution and accumulation of NBFRs, PBDEs, and HBCD in the biota have been investigated in the littoral compartment of a large and deep subalpine lake (Lake Maggiore, Northern Italy), using zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha and roach (Rutilus rutilus) as bioindicators. To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the contamination of NBFRs in the freshwater invertebrate D. polymorpha. Contamination of zebra mussel due to PBEB, HBB, and BTBPE was low, ranging from 0.9 to 2.9 ng/g lipid weight, from 1.1 to 2.9 ng/g l.w., and from 3.5 to 9.5 ng/g l.w., respectively. PBEB and BTBPE in roach were always below the detection limit, while the contamination of HBB ranged from < limits of detection (LOD) to 1.74 ng/g l.w., indicating a weak contamination. DBDPE was < LOD in all the considered biological samples. Finally, HBCD was detected in all organic tissues with mean concentrations up to 74.4 ng/g l.w. PBDE results, supported by principal component analysis elaboration, suggested a possible contamination due to the congeners composing the penta- and deca-BDE technical formulations, which are present in the Lake Maggiore basin. The biomagnification factor values showed that tetra- and penta-BDE biomagnified, while octa-, nona-, and deca-BDE were still bioavailable and detectable in the fish muscles, but they do not biomagnified. Considering the other BFRs, only HBCD showed a moderate biomagnification potential.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the aqueous humor concentrations of bromfenac ophthalmic solution 0.09 % in patients undergoing phacoemulsification. Patients requiring cataract extraction received one drop (50 µL) of bromfenac 0.09 % solution in the eye to be operated, before bedtime the day before surgery or the morning of the surgery. The last administration was recorded. At the time of paracentesis, an aqueous humor sample was collected with a 30-gauge needle attached to a TB syringe and was later analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography for drug concentration. 188 treated volunteers and 48 control, untreated, subjects were included in the study. The mean aqueous concentration of bromfenac in the treated group was 37.60 ± 68.86 and 0 nM (nmol/L) in the control group ( p  < 0.0001). Correlation coefficient in bromfenac group between time elapsed from instillation and drug concentration was −0.16 ( p not significant). Bromfenac showed properties of good penetration and stable concentration in aqueous humor up to about 12 h after instillation.

Eighty-seven soil samples collected from North China were analyzed for decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE). The concentrations of DBDPE ranged from undetectable to 1612 ng/g, with the highest concentration present in Shandong. Additionally, the mean concentration of DBDPE in Shandong was found to be onefold higher than those found in Hebei and Shanxi, likely due to DBDPE production in Shandong. Relatively high concentrations of DBDPE in soils were also present in the south of Tianjin, where e-waste recycling may provide a source in this region. The fractions of DBDPE [DBDPE/(DBDPE + BDE209)] were lower than 0.5 in most soil samples, in agreement with the fact that deca-BDE is currently the main additive in brominated flame retardants (BFR) used in China. An obvious decreasing trend in DBDPE concentrations from east to west in North China was noted, with relatively higher DBDPE concentrations present in Shandong. A soil ingestion exposure assessment showed that for most sites, soil ingestion EDI was slightly lower than inhalation EDI; exceptions were found in several polluted sites, where soil ingestion was a more significant exposure route.

Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs), 1,2- bis (2,4,6-tribromophenoxy) ethane (BTBPE), and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) used as alternatives for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are also persistent in the environment as PBDEs. Limited information on these non-PBDE brominated flame retardants (BFRs) is available; in particular, there are only few publications on environmental pollution by these contaminants in the coastal waters of Asia. In this regard, we investigated the contamination status of HBCDs, BTBPE, and DBDPE in the coastal waters of Asia using mussels as a bioindicator. Concentrations of HBCDs, BTBPE, and DBDPE were determined in green ( Perna viridis ) and blue mussels ( Mytilus edulis ) collected from the coastal areas in Cambodia, China (mainland), SAR China (Hong Kong), India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam on 2003–2008. BTBPE and DBDPE were analyzed using GC-MS, whereas HBCDs were determined by LC-MS/MS. HBCDs, BTBPE, and DBDPE were found in mussels at levels ranging from <0.01 to 1,400, <0.1 to 13, and <0.3 to 22 ng/g lipid wt, respectively. Among the three HBCD diastereoisomers, α-HBCD was the dominant isomer followed by γ- and β-HBCDs. Concentrations of HBCDs and DBDPE in mussels from Japan and Korea were higher compared to those from the other Asian countries, indicating extensive usage of these non-PBDE BFRs in Japan and Korea. Higher levels of HBCDs and DBDPE than PBDEs were detected in some mussel samples from Japan. The results suggest that environmental pollution by non-PBDE BFRs, especially HBCDs in Japan, is ubiquitous. This study provides baseline information on the contamination status of these non-PBDE BFRs in the coastal waters of Asia.

Four novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs), i.e., decabromodiphenylethane (DBDPE), 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy) ethane (BTBPE), pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB), and hexabromobenzene (HBB) were studied in 377 liquid samples and 288 solid samples collected from 20 wastewater treatment plants. Lagoon, primary, secondary, and advanced treatment processes were included, in order to investigate NBFR occurrence and the effects of WWTP operational conditions on NBFR removal. Median influent and effluent levels were 14 to 3,700 and 1.0 to 180 pg/L respectively, with DBDPE being the highest in both. Overall median removal efficiencies for DBDPE, BTBPE, HBB, and PBEB across all process types were 81 to 93, 76 to 98, 61 to 97, and 54 to 97 %, respectively with advanced treatment processes obtaining the best removals. NBFRs removal was related to retention time, surface loading rate, and biomass concentration. Median NBFR levels in treated biosolids were 80 to 32,000 pg/g, influenced by solids treatment processes.

The aim of this Network Meta-analysis was to compare the efficacy of the different topical Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) when added or not to topical steroids in preventing the thickening of the macula and their impact on visual acuity and intraocular pressure after phacoemulsification. Five electronic databases were searched, including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Our primary outcome was one-month post-surgery visual outcome. We also considered change in Foveal thickness (FT) and Intraocular pressure (IOP) at one-month post-surgery. We summarized our analyses by calculating the mean differences (MD) with associated 95% confidence intervals (CI) using restricted maximum likelihood in random effects models for continuous outcomes. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed with Cochrane Collaboration’s tool. The network meta-analysis was conducted using frequentist approach considering Nepafenac 0.1% as a reference medication. Eleven Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including 2175 subjects were selected for quantitative analysis. At one-month post-surgery, Bromfenac had statistically significant better visual acuity compared to Nepafenac 0.1% ( p  < 0.001), regarding FT, Nepafenac 0.3% had the least increase in FT compared to Nepafenac 0.1% ( p  = 0.09), regarding IOP, Diclofenac had the lowest IOP. No significant results regarding FT and IOP. Interestingly Ketorolac had the worst results regarding BCVA and IOP, and came last but one for FT. Overall, our network meta-analysis demonstrated that Bromfenac was associated with a significant improvement in visual acuity compared to Nepafenac 0.1% at one-month following cataract surgery, while Nepafenac 0.3% was associated with the least increase in foveal thickness.