Photodegradation of MeO-PBDEs in pure water is susceptible to their structures.
1O2 and O2− are photo-generated in the aerated MeO-PBDEs solutions.
1O2 can not oxidize MeO-PBDEs; while O2− behaves contrarily.
Hydrodebromination is the major elimination pathway for MeO-PBDEs.
Direct photolysis half-lives of MeO-PBDEs in the surface waters are evaluated.