A Review of Sample Preparation and Analysis Methods for the Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDS) in the Environment

Abstract

Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) has gained comprehensive attention in the recent decades because of their persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic characteristics. In order to identify existing problems in the fate and effects of HBCD on environment and human health, special attention is given to the numerous advances in the methods of analysis, toxicological effects, migration, transformation, and degradation of HBCD and its by-products, as well as distribution of HBCD in the environment and human bodies. Beside the studies of toxicity and distribution, the analysis method of HBCD did not get enough attention and the studies and reviews which related to the analysis method were very few. However, the analysis of HBCD is a continuing challenge mainly because of the limited concentrations in the environment and the large amounts of interfering substances during the measurement. The mistakes during the analysis procedure will seriously affect the study on HBCDs. According, this review paper mainly focuses on the studies of HBCD in recent years and summarizes the sample pretreatment, including sample collection, extraction, concentration and fractionation, and the instrumental analysis of HBCD.