Levels and seasonal variations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in the urban atmosphere of Beijing, China.

Year-round air samples were collected at Beijing on a weekly basis from 2009 to 2010, to determine the levels, gas-particle distribution, seasonal variations and compositional profiles of 8 polybrominated diphenyl ether congeners. The annual mean atmospheric concentrations of ∑7PBDEs and BDE-209 were 6.16 pg/m(3)(N.D-23.6 pg/m(3)) and 164 pg/m(3) (30.7-454 pg/m(3)), respectively. The results showed wide consumption of industrial products containing commercial deca-BDE mixtures in Beijing. The seasonal variations showed that lower brominated congeners had higher levels and greater proportions in the gaseous phase at warm sampling periods than the higher brominated counterparts.