Occurrence, compositional profiles and health risks assessment of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in groundwater in and around dumpsites in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

Groundwater from the communities adjoining Abule Egba (ABE), Epe (EPE), Ikorodu (IKR), Olushosun (OSH) and Solous (SOL) dumpsites in Lagos State, Nigeria, were collected and analyzed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers. Water samples were extracted using liquid-liquid extraction followed by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy analysis using the already validated standard method. PBDEs concentrations ranged from 7 ± 10 (IKR) to 78 ± 109 µgL⁻¹ (ABE) for BDE-28; 5.4 ± 0.3 (OSH) to 31.5 ± 27.3 µgL⁻¹ (ABE) for BDE-47; 17 ± 24 (ABE) to 183 ± 226 µgL⁻¹ for BDE-100; 11.7 ± 16.5 (ABE) to 174 ± 217 µgL⁻¹(EPE) for BDE-99; 117 ± 166 (ABE) to 2034 ± 2819 µg L⁻¹ (EPE) for BDE −183; 296 ± 392 (IKR) to 4283 ± 1278 µg L⁻¹ (EPE) for BDE-209. BDE- 153 and BDE- 154 were not detected in all the water samples, while BDE- 28 was only detected in ABE and IKR water samples. The BDE- 209 was the most dominant congener in all the water samples. The cumulative Hazard Index (HI) values for children through ingestion route ranged from 4.95 E + 00 (SOL) to 4.53 E + 01 (EPE), while in adults, it ranged from 4.25 E + 00 (SOL) to 3.88 E + 01 (EPE). This study confirmed the presence of PBDEs at an elevated concentration in groundwater. Since there is no regular supply of pipe-borne water in the study area, residents consume the contaminated groundwater and may be exposed to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Therefore, the government should provide pipe-borne water for the populace and discourage people from living close to the dumpsites.

Keywords:

• Occurrence
• distribution
• PBDEs
• groundwater
• dumpsites
• Lagos State

Acknowledgment

We also thank the Directorate of Grants Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, for professional coordination/administration of the grant.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The research team expresses profound gratitude for the funding support from Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Research and Development Council (LRSC).