Alternative Flame Retardant, 2,4,6-Tris(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)-1,3,5-triazine, in an E-waste Recycling Facility and House Dust in North America

Abstract

A high molecular weight compound, 2,4,6-tris(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)-1,3,5-triazine (TTBP-TAZ), was detected during the analysis of brominated flame retardants in dust samples collected from an electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) recycling facility in Ontario, Canada. Gas chromatography coupled with both high-resolution and low-resolution mass spectrometry (MS) was used to determine TTBP-TAZ's chemical structure and concentrations. To date, TTBP-TAZ has only been detected in plastic casings of electrical and electronic equipment and house dust from The Netherlands. Here we report on the concentrations of TTBP-TAZ in selected samples from North America: e-waste dust ( n = 7) and air ( n = 4), residential dust ( n = 30), and selected outdoor air ( n = 146), precipitation ( n = 19), sediment ( n = 11) and water ( n = 2) samples from the Great Lakes environment. TTBP-TAZ was detected in all the e-waste dust and air samples, and in 70% of residential dust samples. The median concentrations of TTBP-TAZ in these three types of samples were 5540 ng/g, 5.75 ng/m and 6.76 ng/g, respectively. The flame retardants 2,4,6-tribromophenol, tris(2,3-dibromopropyl) isocyanurate, and 3,3',5,5'-tetrabromobisphenol A bis(2,3-dibromopropyl) ether, BDE-47 and BDE-209 were also measured for comparison. None of these other flame retardants concentrations was significantly correlated with those of TTBP-TAZ in any of the sample types suggesting different sources. TTBP-TAZ was not detected in any of the outdoor environmental samples, which may relate to its application history and physicochemical properties. This is the first report of TTBP-TAZ in North America.

Massive Emissions of a Broad Range of Emerging Hindered Phenol Antioxidants and Sulfur Antioxidants from E-Waste Recycling in Urban Mining: New Insights into an Environmental Source

“…The total concentration of all HPAs (∑ 18 HPAs) in e-waste dust ranged from 3.71 × 10 3 to 1.15 × 10 5 ng/g, with a median of 1.22 × 10 4 ng/g. The concentrations and DFs of HPAs in e-waste dust were comparable to or slightly lower than previously reported e-waste dust concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), − tetrabromobisphenol A, decabromodiphenyl ethane, and liquid crystal monomers but higher than reported e-waste dust concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), , organophosphate triesters, dechlorane plus, hexabromocyclododecanes, , alternative flame retardants, , and other emerging e-waste pollutants. , The median concentrations of most individual HPAs in e-waste dust were >1 order of magnitude higher than those detected in general indoor dust. ,, These e-waste dust detection results highlight the abundant, ubiquitous presence of a broad range of HPAs in e-waste recycling areas and indicate that e-waste recycling contributes to massive emissions of HPAs in work environments.…”

Tri(2,4-di-t-butylphenyl) Phosphate: A Previously Unrecognized, Abundant, Ubiquitous Pollutant in the Built and Natural Environment

“…In fact, during the analysis of dust from an e-waste dismantling facility in Ontario, Canada, we previously identified 2,4,6-tris(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)-1,3,5triazine (TTBP-TAZ); this was the first report of TTBP-TAZ in the North American environment. 6 Here, we present the identification of a high molecular weight compound, tri(2,4-dit-butylphenyl) phosphate (TDTBPP), which we found in this e-waste dust for the first time, and we demonstrate that it is relatively abundant both in the natural and in the built environment. In particular, we report its concentrations in ambient air, water, and sediment from southwestern Lake Michigan and in e-waste and residential dust from Ontario, Canada.…”

“…These and other flame retardants are widely used in plastics, casings, wires, and printed circuit boards used in electrical and electronic equipment, where they are applied at weight percent levels. , Most of these products are recycled as e-waste, which turns out to be a good media in which to look for previously unidentified pollutants. In fact, during the analysis of dust from an e-waste dismantling facility in Ontario, Canada, we previously identified 2,4,6-tris­(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)-1,3,5-triazine (TTBP-TAZ); this was the first report of TTBP-TAZ in the North American environment . Here, we present the identification of a high molecular weight compound, tri­(2,4-di- t -butylphenyl) phosphate (TDTBPP), which we found in this e-waste dust for the first time, and we demonstrate that it is relatively abundant both in the natural and in the built environment.…”

Broad Exposure of the North American Environment to Phenolic and Amino Antioxidants and to Ultraviolet Filters

“…The collection of dust, sediments, and atmospheric particles has been described previously. ,− Briefly, 21 e-waste dust samples were collected from the floor, work benches, and sorting bins in an e-waste dismantling facility in Ontario, Canada, in 2016. One residential floor dust sample was collected from each of 20 houses in Ontario, Canada, in 2015 and from each of 12 houses in Indiana, United States, in 2013.…”