To estimate the biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions in China, this study collected data on vegetation volume, production and distribution, converted into leaf biomass and then used BVOC emission model. In 2003, the annual BVOC emission in China was 12.83 Tg, composed of 7.45 Tg isoprene, 2.23 Tg monoterpenes, and 3.14 Tg other VOCs (OVOCs). Emissions varied significantly among plant species, with contributions ordered as follows: forests > shrubs > crops > grasslands. Southern and northeastern China were the main sources of BVOC emissions. Significant seasonal variation was found with summer contributing the most.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), extensively used as flame retardants, are ubiquitous environmental contaminants that are found in both abiotic and biotic environmental samples. Sufficient evidence shows that PBDEs have been rapidly accumulating in the environment of China, especially in the Southeast regions. This paper summarizes and critically reviews the published scientific data on PBDEs in China, including the levels of PBDEs in the air, soil, water, sediment, the terrestrial and marine organisms, and human samples in China. The data preliminarily reveal the state of PBDEs in China. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.