Work

Sediment Record of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in a Lake of the Xizang Plateau Reveals Long-Range Atmospheric Transport

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Remote alpine lakes on the Xizang Plateau are important archives for tracing the long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT) of persistent organic pollutants, yet historical records of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) from this region remain scarce. The main objective of this study was to reconstruct the historical record of PBDEs in Yamzho Yumco sediments and to evaluate whether this record reflects source evolution, atmospheric transport, deposition, and post-emission environmental fractionation in a remote alpine receptor system. To achieve this objective, 17 PBDE congeners were determined in a 210Pb- and 137Cs-dated sediment core spanning 1930–2023. Σ17PBDE concentrations ranged from 5.80 to 263.13 pg/g dw, and depositional fluxes ranged from 2.67 to 121.04 pg/cm2/yr, both showing a marked increase after the 1970s and remaining elevated after 2000. Lower-brominated congeners, especially BDE-47, dominated the core, whereas nona- and deca-BDEs appeared mainly in recent sediments, indicating progressive source evolution in recent decades. Tri- to penta-BDEs remained the dominant homologue fraction throughout the record, while elevated post-2000 BDE-47/BDE-99 ratios point to congener-selective environmental fractionation during atmospheric transport and deposition. Together, these results suggest that Yamzho Yumco sediments preserve not only the history of regional PBDE input, but also the coupled imprint of source evolution, transport-related fractionation, and delayed environmental response in a remote high-altitude receptor system. This study highlights the value of Xizang Plateau Lake sediments for process-based interpretation of POP fate in mountain environments.

Source: Atmosphere

DOI: 10.3390/atmos17060533

Authors: Qian Li, Zeming Shi, Qingsong Wu, Peng Yang, Yanggang Zhao, Zihong Liao

Institutions: China Geological Survey, Chengdu University of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact

Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896

Funder: China Geological Survey