Abstract:

The pollution levels and composition characteristics of 12 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and
5 methoxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (MeO-PBDEs) in 65 egg samples from Beijing markets were examined by
gas chromatography-negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry (GC-NCI/MS) to explore their pollution characteristics.
The level of total PBDEs detected in egg samples was 2.21 μg/kg, and the level of total MeO-PBDEs were 0.89 μg/kg, which
were lower than other relevant studies in China and abroad. The relevance ratio of PBDEs and MeO-PBDEs were 15.38%
and 4.62% and these pollutants were dominated by BDE-71 and MeO-85. The kinds and levels of analytes in egg yolk were
higher than those in egg white. Pollution level and dietary risk assessment of PBDEs in eggs showed acceptable levels of
PBDEs in eggs from Beijing supermarkets.

Key words: egg, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and methoxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (MeO-PBDEs), pollution level, dietary risk assessment