Levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in water and sediment from open city drains in Makurdi Metropolitan Area, North Central Nigeria

Abstract

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been classified as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) as well as endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs). This study determined the concentrations of six PBDE congeners (BDE 47, BDE 99, BDE 100, BDE 153, BDE 154, and BDE 183) in water and sediment samples from open city drains, in the Makurdi Metropolitan Area, North Central Nigeria, using gas chromatogragh–mass spectrometer. These congeners are components of the penta- and octa-BDE formulations that have been banned by the European Union. The samples were collected from the drains, bi-monthly, for 1 year across dry and wet seasons. All the congeners considered were found to be present in both water and sediment. The levels of Σ6PBDEs in water ranged from 0.05 to 0.28 ng L−1 during dry season and 0.02 to 0.36 ng L−1 during wet season, while their levels in sediment during dry and wet seasons ranged from 3.22 to 26.26 ng g−1 and 7.51 to 27.41 ng g−1, respectively. The percentage recoveries from solid phase and Soxhlet extractions ranged from 69 to 104% and 70 to 112%, respectively. It was concluded that the presence of all the congeners in both water and sediment posed a pollution risk to the river in which the drains discharge and require further monitoring and necessary preventive measures.