Identification of Q1 and other halogenated natural products in SPMDs deployed at the Great Barrier Reef (Australia)

Halogenated natural products (HNPs) such as heptachlorobipyrrole (Q1) and 4,6-dibromo-2-(2’,4’- dibromo)phenoxyanisole (2’-MeO-BDE 68 or BC-2) have been detected in marine wildlife worldwide. Among the highest concentrations of some HNPs, were detected in marine mammals including dolphins from Queensland/Australia. In this study we evaluate the presence of potentially bioavailable HNPs using semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) passive samplers. SPMDs, deployed at 12 marine and two nonmarine sites (i.e. rivers) along the Great Barrier Reef as part of a routine monitoring program during November 2007 and May 2008 were analysed. Q1 and 2’-MeO-BDE 68 were detected in about two thirds of samples collected from marine sites with up to 44 ng/SPMD (mean 12 ng/SPMD) for Q1 and up to 115 ng/SPMD (mean 20 ng/SPMD for BC-2) (values normalised to 30 days deployment). Neither of these compounds was detected in the samples from the two rivers. Other HNPs including 2,4,6 tribromoanisol (TBA) and 2,4,6 tribromophenol (TBP) were detected as well. No polybrominated flame retardants were detected in any of the samples. Highest amount of any HNP that was detectable was for TBP with 2.3 μg/SPMD. Furthermore the study demonstrated that passive sampling tools may be useful for evaluation sources and exposure of HNPs