OBJECTIVETo reveal the levels and distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in fish and egg products at retail in Shenzhen, and to evaluate the local people's exposure to PBDEs from these food.

METHODS27 fish and egg samples were collected from supermarket and farmer's market in Shenzhen during August and October in 2008. According to the guideline of USEPA1614 method, the accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) technology was used for the extraction of PBDEs from fish and egg samples. After a series of purification processes including treatments of FMS column chromatography, acidic silica gel, silica gel and Al2O3 column, the levels of eight PBDEs congeners in the samples were determined by isotope dilution high resolution gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC-HRMS) method.

RESULTSWhen BDE-209 was not taken into account, the median concentrations of ΣPBDEs in fish products was 914.7 pg/g wet weight, among which the datas for fresh water fish and sea fish were 328.2 and 1108.8 pg/g wet weight, respectively, showing a statistical significant difference (P < 0.05). BDE-47 was the predominant congener in fresh water fish and sea fish by a contribution proportion of 61% and 57%, respectively. The median concentrations of ΣPBDEs in egg products were 99.8 pg/g wet weight and the predominant congeners are BDE-47 and BDE-99, with a contribution proportion above 70%. BDE-209 was not detected in fresh water fish and the median concentration in sea fish and egg products are 243.7 and 472.6 pg/g wet weight, respectively, which caused the predominant congener changed to BDE-209 in egg products when BDE-209 was take into account. The median dietary intake of PBDEs from fish and egg products among local residents in Shenzhen was estimated as 102 ng/d.

CONCLUSIONThe level of ΣPBDEs in fish and egg products in Shenzhen is relatively high. The characteristics of PBDEs pollution are quite different between fish and egg products. The level of daily dietary intake of PBDEs from fish and egg products among local residents in Shenzhen is also relatively high.