Resorcinol bis(diphenylphosphate) (RDP) is an organophosphorus flame retardant widely used in electric and electronic equipment. It has been detected in house dust of several European countries according to recent literature. Similar to other flame retardants, RDP formulations and products treated with RDP, such as plastics, can contain RDP impurities, byproducts and breakdown products. In this study, we use screening methods based on wide scope solvent extraction and high resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry for the identification of RDP related compounds in products and in dust. We analyzed both plastics from electrical/electronic equipment that contained RDP and indoor dust collected on and around surfaces of this equipment. A variety of compounds, namely TPHP, hydroxylated TPHP and RDP (meta-HO-TPHP and meta-HO-RDP), dihydroxylated TPHP, RDP with the loss of a phenyl group (RDP-[Phe]) and RDP oligomers were detected in plastics containing high levels of RDP. Regarding dust samples collected on electronics, TPHP meta-HO-TPHP, meta-HO-RDP, RDP-[Phe] and RDP oligomers were detected. High concentrations of meta-HO-TPHP (20-14 227 ng/g), TPHP (222-50 728 ng/g) and RDP (23-29 118 ng/g) were found in many of the dust samples, so that these compounds seem to easily migrate into the environment. These RDP impurities, byproducts and breakdown products are for the first time reported in indoor dust. Meta-HO-TPHP could be relevant for future biomonitoring studies concerning flame retardants.

a b s t r a c tNutrient supply in organic pig production is characterized by limited amino acids (AA) availability due to the preferable use of home-grown feedstuffs and restrictions on purchased feedstuffs. This can cause large variations in the quality of diets, carcasses, and pork. The objective of two feeding trials was to assess the interactions between feeding regimes, genotype, and birth weight on carcass and pork quality. A control regime was compared with two feeding regimes that were partly (only in the finishing phase (FIN)) or both in the growing and finishing phase (GRO + FIN) restricted to home-grown feedstuffs, thus differing in AA supply. Using an isocaloric ration, individually housed pigs differing in genotype (Experiment 1) or birth weight (Experiment 2) were allocated to the three feeding regimes.The highest daily live weight gain, the best feed conversion, and the highest values for performance traits and meat composition were achieved by Du × DL pigs, while the highest carcass yield was achieved by Pi × (DL × DE) pigs. In Experiment 1, performance traits were significantly higher in the control feeding regime than in the GRO + FIN treatment, with the feeding regime FIN being intermediate. Lean meat percentage was significantly lower in the GRO + FIN feeding regime than in the control while the fat area was not influenced by feeding regime. Intramuscular fat content was higher under the GRO + FIN feeding regime without AA supplementation than in the control. In Experiment 2, birth weight showed no significant effect on carcass yield, carcass traits and meat composition, but affected growth rate. Performance traits were highest in the control, while meat composition was best in the GRO + FIN treatment, confirming results of Experiment 1. Exclusion of AA supplementation in the feeding regime reduced growth but increased intramuscular fat content (IMF). The feeding regime was the main source of variation for intramuscular fat content in the longissimus muscle. Organic pig production can yield high quality pork, but information on feed, feed intake, and pig characteristics is important to steer the production process.

No abstract

No abstract