Global Co-Occurrence of Trace Elements and Additive Legacy Brominated Flame Retardants in Aquatic Environment: A Cause for Concern

•TEs and ALBFRs co-occur in the same environment.•TEs and ALBFRs may form more toxic complex compounds if they co-exist in the same environment.•The pH of the environmental matrix is the most influential parameter affecting the mobility and the fate of TEs.•Very few studies have simultaneously studied the levels of TEs and ALBFRs in water and sediment.•ICP-MS and GC-MS are more commonly used for the detection of TEs and ALBFRs respectively in water and sediment.•BDE-17, 153, and 183 are bioaccumulative, while BDE-47, 66, 100, and HBCDD are very bioaccumulative.