Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers Pollution in Urban and Rural Settings’ Ambient Air in Kenya: An Insight into Concentration Levels, Compositional Profile and Seasonal Variation

Enock M. Osoro; Shem O. Wandiga; Vincent O. Madadi; Deborah A. Abong'o

Enock M. Osoro Department of Chemistry, University of Nairobi
Shem O. Wandiga Department of Chemistry, University of Nairobi
Vincent O. Madadi Department of Chemistry, University of Nairobi
Deborah A. Abong'o Department of Chemistry, University of Nairobi

Keywords: Air pollution, Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, Passive air sampling, Urban, Rural

Abstract

Air samples were collected from three urban and one rural sites in Kenya with the aim of establishing pollution levels of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers. Forty-eight air Samples were collected by passive air sampling, Soxhlet extracted and analysed for brominated diphenyl ethers using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometer. The mean concentration of polybrominated diphenyl ethers residue in air ranged from ≤0.9 to 152.72±3.19 pgm−3. The predominant congener was 2,2′,4,4′-tetra-bromodiphenyl ether with mean concentration range of 1.94±0.03 to 152.72±3.19 pgm−3 followed by 2,2′,4,4′,5-penta- bromodiphenyl ether with mean concentration range of 1.32±0.06 to 66.83±1.19 pgm−3. Seasonal variations of the pollutants showed a high level of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in hot dry season in range of 1.94±0.03 to 152.72±3.19 pgm−3. Air samples from Dandora and Industrial area both from urban location recorded high concentrations of the analysed polybrominated diphenyl ethers compared with the air samples from the rural location.