Phosphorus flame retardants in indoor dust and their relation to asthma and allergies of inhabitants

Abstract

Organophosphate esters are used as additives in flame retardants and plasticizers, and they are ubiquitous in the indoor environment. Phosphorus flame retardants (PFRs) are present in residential dust, but few epidemiological studies have assessed their impact on human health. We measured the levels of 11 PFRs in indoor floor dust and multi-surface dust in 182 single-family dwellings in Japan. We evaluated their correlations with asthma and allergies of the inhabitants. Tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate was detected in all samples (median value: 580 μg/g in floor dust, 111 μg/g in multi-surface dust). Tris(2-chloro-iso-propyl) phosphate (TCIPP) was detected at 8.69 μg/g in floor dust and 25.8 μg/g in multi-surface dust. After adjustment for potential confounders, significant associations were found between the prevalence of atopic dermatitis and the presence of TCIPP and tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate in floor dust [per log10 -unit, odds ratio (OR): 2.43 and 1.84, respectively]. Tributyl phosphate was significantly associated with the prevalence of asthma (OR: 2.85 in floor dust, 5.34 in multi-surface dust) and allergic rhinitis (OR: 2.55 in multi-surface dust). PFR levels in Japan were high compared with values reported previously for Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the USA. Higher levels of PFRs in house dust were related to the inhabitants' health status.

Detection and intake assessment of organophosphate flame retardants in house dust in Japanese dwellings

“…Dirtu et al (2012) also indicated that the use of waxes containing TBOEP resulted in increased concentrations of this PFR. These findings are consistent with previous studies reporting that TBOEP is the most dominant PFR (Araki et al, 2013;Bergh et al, 2011;Dirtu et al, 2012;Hartmann et al, 2004;Kanazawa et al, 2010;Marklund et al, 2003) In the case of wall-to-wall carpet, the TBOEP concentration was 2.02 μg/g (mean of n = 3). Takigami et al (2009) reported that the TBOEP concentration was 6.6 μg/g in a Japanese-style banquet room in which the floor materials may have been tatami, whereas western-style banquet rooms in the same hotel had TBOEP concentrations of 91-230 μg/g.…”

“…On the other hand, there was no significant difference between TBOEP concentration and the age of the dwelling; this may be because the building age of the target homes in the study by Araki et al (2013) was 3-8 years. In the study by investigated.…”

“…Japanese houses have a remarkably high concentration of TBOEP (Araki et al, 2013;Kanazawa et al, 2010) (Table 6). On the other hand, there was no significant difference between TBOEP concentration and the age of the dwelling; this may be because the building age of the target homes in the study by Araki et al (2013) was 3-8 years.…”

“…Higher PFR concentrations have been detected in Japan than in any other country in previous studies (Araki et al, 2013;Kanazawa et al, 2010). However, these studies investigated only new (building age of 3 to 8 years) detached houses.…”

“…Increases in TCIPP and TDCIPP concentrations were associated with an increase in the risk of atopic dermatitis, and increases in TNBP concentrations were associated with an increase in the risk of asthma and allergic rhinitis (Araki et al, 2013).…”