The distribution of PBDEs in the mountains of the Central Tibetan Plateau (CTP) was determined by sampling soil along an elevation transect. The analysis of soil extracts was performed by gas chromatography and highresolution mass spectrometry, through which 42 congeners were detected. The samples were also characterized with respect to the soil organic carbon (SOC) and mineral contents. The logarithmic concentration for three of the fractions and the ΣPBDEs increased significantly and exponentially with altitude. The slope value of the linear regression between the logarithm of the clay-normalized three fractional concentrations and the altitude is in the following order: light>intermediatebheavy. The coefficient of determination between the logarithm of normalized concentration and the altitude indicates that in the CTP, the clay normalization exhibits a better correlation to altitude than does the SOC normalization. The exponential equation between the concentration and altitude was modified by accounting for the localized soil properties. The exponential equation between the concentration and altitude was modified by accounting for the localized soil properties.

Sixteen soil samples were collected from the central Tibetan Plateau (CTP). The soil concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in CTP were analyzed. The detected 42 congeners were divided into light, intermediate and heavy fractions. In addition to the various minerals, other soil properties were also characterized, including the content of soil organic carbon (SOC) and the particle size distribution. The clay content is positively related to the intermediate fraction of the PBDEs and negatively related to the light and heavy fractions. Similar correlations were observed for SOC and the fine-particle fraction (size < 2 mm). The coefficient of determination (r2) associated with a linear regression indicated that the clays were more highly correlated with the fractional pattern of the PBDEs than with the other properties, such as SOC and the fine-particle fraction. The values of r2 between clays and three fractions of PBDEs are 0.70, 0.69 and 0.58.

The tenlporal and spatial distribution of heavy nletals (Cd, Hg, Pb, As and Cr) in Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake (3050km:) in China, were studied based on the sedimentary profiles. For this purpose, eight sedimentary cores were selected which located at lake area, outfall of lake and the main branch rivers, respectively. High resolution profiles with interval 2 cm were used fur analyzing the concentration of metals, and the ages of them were determined by20pb and 137 Cs isotopic dating. While studying the change of nletals concentration with the age in profile, it is found that the concentration of then1 in sedinlents was influenced not only by the sources in history but also by the sedinlent types. Based on this detailed work, the inventory and burden of heavy metals per decade were estimated in lake area during the past S0 years. Significantly, rivers contribution ratio per decade was estinlated to distinguish each river's contribution of heavy nletals into lake while river flux in history and nletals concentration in profiles were considered as calculating factors. So, our research provides a proof to well understand the sedinlentarv history and the inputting historv of heavv nletals fronl nlain rivers into an inland lake.