The spatial,temporal,and vertical distributions of polybrominated diphenyl ethers(PBDEs) in water columns from the Zhujiang River Estuary were examined,and the partition behavior of PBDEs between particle and dissolved phases was investigated in the present study.The results show that the distributions of PBDEs concentrations in the water varied with the sampling seasons.The PBDEs concentrations in water samples were lower in May 2005,when the brackish water was dominant in the estuary,than in October 2005,when fresh water from river runoff dominated the estuary.The spatial distribution of PBDEs in October 2005 indicated that the river runoff was the major mode to input PBDEs to the estuary,and the concentration of PBDEs in water might be dissolved organic carbon(DOC) dependence.The spatial and vertical distributions of PBDEs in May 2005 were relatively homogeneous,and SPM was the major factor on controlling the levels of PBDEs in this sampling time.Both DOC and POC could play certain roles in determining the distribution and partition of PBDEs between particle and dissolved phases,but their effects varied with the water properties.
