Occurrence and Distribution of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Sediments from Nairobi River Basin, Kenya, East Africa

Abstract

This study was set to determine the levels and spatial distribution of selected PBDEs in sediments of Nairobi River during the four seasons experienced in Nairobi. Sediment samples were collected from nine sites along the river and analyzed for brominated diphenyl ethers 28, 47, 66, 85, 99, 100, 153, 154, and 183 using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometer. The mean concentration of polybrominated diphenyl ethers residue in sediment samples ranged between 134.70±3.07 to 24386.13±207.22 ng/Kg. The high mean concentration of PBDEs in the river sediments indicates that anthropogenic activities along the Nairobi River basin have contributed to polybrominated diphenyl ethers contamination of the river sediment posing a potential risk to aquatic organisms that inhabit the river.