HR: 0800h
AN: A21A-0837    [Abstracts]
TI: Gas Phase Degradation of Polybrominated Diphenylethers: Photolysis vs. Reaction with OH Radical
AU: * Raff, J D
EM: joraff@indiana.edu
AF: School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405-2208 United States
AU: Hites, R A
EM: hitesr@indiana.edu
AF: School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405-2208 United States
AB: Polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) are a class of flame-retardants produced in large quantities (70,000 metric tons in 2003) and added to polymers used to fabricate materials for electronics, textiles, construction, and other applications. Their volatility and persistence make them susceptible to atmospheric transport and their structural resemblance to polychlorinated diphenyls (PCBs) and dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) has raised concern about their possible toxicity. The dominant atmospheric loss processes for PBDEs are by direct photolysis and reaction with OH radical. Data on OH radical rate constants of selected PBDE congeners determined by a relative rate technique utilizing a small volume reaction chamber and mass spectrometric detection will be presented. Estimated photolysis rate constants have also been derived for PBDEs and will be discussed in terms of the relative importance of photolysis vs. reaction with OH radical as loss processes for PBDEs in the troposphere.
DE: 0317 Chemical kinetic and photochemical properties
DE: 0345 Pollution: urban and regional (0305, 0478, 4251)
DE: 0365 Troposphere: composition and chemistry
DE: 0368 Troposphere: constituent transport and chemistry
DE: 0394 Instruments and techniques
SC: Atmospheric Sciences [A]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005