Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) concentration in sediments located in the vicinity of fish plant effluent outfalls in the maritimes.

Since polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are known to be present in various species of fish, it is likely that fish processing effluent would contain significant amount of PBDEs. The purpose of this study was to determine the PBDE concentrations in sediments located near fish plant effluent outfalls. The range of concentrations of PBDEs in marine sediments in Canada published in the literature was very similar to the results obtained in this study (0.015-5.12 ng/g, dry weight). The concentrations measured in this study for all three technical mixtures (2.78 x 10(-3), 1.92 x 10(-3) and 2.02 x 10(-3) mg/kg, respectively) were all below known toxicity thresholds (0.031, 9.1 and 76 mg/kg, respectively).