Distribution Patterns of Brominated, Chlorinated, and Phosphorus Flame Retardants with Particle Size in Indoor and Outdoor Dust and Implications for Human Exposure

Abstract

Dust samples were collected in Beijing, China, from four different indoor microenvironments (office, hotel, kindergarten, and student dormitory) and one outdoor (road dust) microenvironment. These five composite samples were fractionated into 13 sequential size fractions and an individual fraction of <50 μm for further analysis. In the fractions of <50 μm, nine phosphorus flame retardants (∑PFRs), four novel brominated flame retardants (∑NBFRs), and two Dechlorane Plus isomers (DPs) showed the highest concentrations in hotel dust (124,000 ng g(-1)), dormitory dust (14,200 ng g(-1)), and kindergarten dust (231 ng g(-1)), respectively. Nevertheless, nine polybrominated diphenyl ethers (∑PBDEs) were the dominant flame retardants (FRs) (96% of total FRs) in road dust, with the maximum concentration of 23,700 ng g(-1), higher than in any indoor dust. The FR contamination varied strongly among different types of microenvironments, leading to high human exposure to various FRs. Concentrations of FRs did not increase constantly with a particle size decrease. Fractions with a particle size around 900, 100, and 10 μm could represent peak values, while valley values were commonly detected around fractions with a particle size around 40 μm. Large differences were found between indoor dust and road dust. In road dust, FRs were mainly enriched in fractions of <50 μm. The organic content of dust, FR application, and consequent abrasion processes of FR-containing materials might be the determinants of the FR concentrations. Volatilization and abrasion were considered to be important migration pathways for FRs. DPs and BDE-209 were sought to be mainly applied in abrasion-proof materials, while most phosphorus flame retardants (PFRs) were probably added in a large proportion in materials easy to wear.

Sources and environmental behaviors of Dechlorane Plus and related compounds — A review

“…In the indoor dust in Beijing, China, the highest DP levels were found in kindergarten dust (231 ng g −1 ), which was even higher than in house dust from Guanzhou, China (mean 18.9 ng g −1 ) (Cao et al, 2014). A regular distribution pattern of DP in dust with particle size was also observed with stronger enrichment on fine particles than coarse particles, implying a potential human exposure to this chemical (Cao et al, 2014). In air, Ren et al (2008) investigated DP across 97 Chinese urban and rural sites by using PUF disk passive air samplers, and found that DP concentration in urban centers (mean value 15.6 ± 15.1 pg m − 3 ) was approximately 5 times greater than those measured in rural areas (3.5 ± 5.6 pg m −3 ).…”

“…In the indoor dust from different microenvironments (i.e., home, workplace and car) in the Greater Cairo region, Egypt, both the syn-and anti-isomers were detected in 100% of the car dust samples reaching 4.94 and 5.65 ng g −1 , respectively (Hassan and Shoeib, 2015). In the indoor dust in Beijing, China, the highest DP levels were found in kindergarten dust (231 ng g −1 ), which was even higher than in house dust from Guanzhou, China (mean 18.9 ng g −1 ) (Cao et al, 2014). A regular distribution pattern of DP in dust with particle size was also observed with stronger enrichment on fine particles than coarse particles, implying a potential human exposure to this chemical (Cao et al, 2014).…”

Occurrence, distribution and seasonal variation of organophosphate flame retardants and plasticizers in urban surface water in Beijing, China

“…In addition, high levels and detection frequency of OPEs have been observed in outdoor environment, including air particle matters (M€ oller et al, 2012;Salamova et al, 2014aSalamova et al, , 2014b and dust (Cao et al, 2014). It is probable that these pollutants in the outdoor air and dust are released into rivers along with wet deposition (rainfall) in the summer.…”

Disposition of the Emerging Brominated Flame Retardant, 2-Ethylhexyl 2,3,4,5-Tetrabromobenzoate, in Female SD Rats and Male B6C3F1 Mice: Effects of Dose, Route, and Repeated Administration

“…Exposure to EH-TBB is essentially ubiquitous due to its use in polyurethane foams and subsequent presence in house dust (Al-Omran and Harrad, 2016;Cao et al, 2014;Carignan et al, 2013;Harrad et al, 2010;Qi et al, 2014;Stapleton et al, 2014). A majority of systemic exposure to EH-TBB is expected to result from ingestion of dust, with upper range estimates of 0.2-0.4 ng EH-TBB/g dust/kg body weight (Ali et al, 2012;Al-Omran and Harrad, 2016).…”