Legacy and emerging organophosphorus flame retardants and plasticizers in indoor microenvironments from Guangzhou, South China.

Indoor dust has been extensively used for assessment of indoor contamination, especially for semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs). In the present study, the occurrence of four groups of SVOCs, i.e. organophosphorus flame retardants (PFRs), emerging PFRs (ePFRs), legacy phthalates (LPs), and alternative plasticizers (APs), was investigated in the indoor dust and air collected from floors, table surfaces, windows, and air conditioner (A/C) filters in bedrooms and offices in Guangzhou, South China. In bedrooms, A/C filter dust showed the highest median concentrations of PFRs (4670 ng/g) and ePFRs (586 ng/g), whilst the highest median concentrations of LPs and APs were found in floor (240,880 ng/g) and window dust (157,160 ng/g), respectively. In offices, A/C filter dust showed the highest median concentrations for PFRs (6750 ng/g) and APs (504,520 ng/g), while the highest ePFR median level was found in PC table dust (5810 ng/g) and LPs in floor dust (296,270 ng/g). Median air concentrations of PFRs, ePFRs, LPs, and APs were measured at 4.6, 0.12, 399, and 25 ng/m3 in bedrooms, and at 8.0, 0.05, 332, and 43 ng/m3 in offices, respectively. Tris(1-chloro-iso-propyl) phosphate (TCIPP) was the predominant PFRs/ePFRs in both dust and air. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-iso-decyl phthalate (DIDP) and di-iso-nonyl phthalate (DINP) were the main LP/AP compounds in dust, whilst di-iso-butyl phthalate (DIBP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DNBP) were the most abundant LPs/APs in air. A significant correlation (p < 0.05) was found between dust and air levels for chemicals with log Koa < 14, indicating that equilibrium was achieved for these chemicals but not for those with log Koa > 14. Among the investigated human exposure pathways (i.e. dust ingestion, dermal absorption, and air inhalation), dust ingestion was the predominant one for all chemicals. Human exposures of this magnitude to these chemicals through the investigated pathways was unlikely to present a health risk in the present study.

Tang B ，Christia C ，Malarvannan G ，Liu YE ，Luo XJ ，Covaci A ，Mai BX ，Poma G ... -  《-》

Changes in levels of legacy and emerging organophosphorus flame retardants and plasticizers in indoor dust from a former e-waste recycling area in South China: 2013-2017.

To assess the impacts of e-waste regulations on environmental pollution, the levels, compositions, and human exposure assessment of organophosphorus flame retardants (PFRs), emerging PFRs (ePFRs), phthalate esters (PAEs), and alternative plasticizers (APs) were investigated in indoor dust samples collected from homes in a former e-waste dismantling area in 2013 and in 2017, 4 years after the implementation of legislation and regulations governing e-waste dismantling activities in this area. The median concentrations of ΣPFRs, ΣePFRs, ΣPAEs, and ΣAPs in dust decreased from 5680, 1650, 167,200, and 140,600 ng/g in 2013 to 1210, 476, 95,000, and 45,300 ng/g in 2017, respectively, suggesting that the national and local regulations prohibiting primitive e-waste dismantling activities is effective in mitigating the pollution status for these chemicals. In the analyzed dust samples, tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCIPP), triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), resorcinol bis(diphenylphosphate) (RDP), and bisphenol A-bis(diphenyl phosphate) (BDP) were the major PFRs/ePFRs, contributing to 77% and 76% of the total PFRs/ePFRs in 2013 and 2017, respectively. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-iso-nonyl phthalate (DINP), di-iso-decyl phthalate (DIDP), and di-n-butyl phthalate (DNBP) were the major PAEs/APs, with contributions of 89% and 95% for the total PAEs/APs in 2013 and 2017, respectively. The results of the human exposure assessment demonstrated that exposure to these levels of the target chemicals via dust ingestion and dermal contact was unlikely to cause health concerns for local residents.

Tang B ，Christia C ，Luo XJ ，Covaci A ，Poma G ，Mai BX ... -  《-》

Brominated and phosphate flame retardants (FRs) in indoor dust from different microenvironments: Implications for human exposure via dust ingestion and dermal contact.

Indoor dust has been widely used to monitor flame retardants (FRs) in indoor environment, but most studies only focused on floor dust. In the present study, FRs were examined in indoor dust from different locations. Dust from air conditioner (AC) filters, beddings, floor, and windows in bedrooms, and dust from AC filters, printer table surface, computer table surface, floor, and windows in offices were collected, respectively. Polybrominated diphenyl ether congener 209 (BDE 209) and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) were the most abundant brominated flame retardants (BFRs), and tris(chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP), tris(1,3-dichloroisopropyl) phosphate (TDCIPP), and triphenyl phosphate (TPHP) were the most abundant phosphate flame retardants (PFRs). In bedrooms, the AC filter dust had the highest median levels of BDE 209 (536 ng/g) and DBDPE (2720 ng/g), while bed dust had the highest median levels of ΣPFRs (2750 ng/g) among dust samples. In offices, printer table dust had higher median levels of BDE 209 (1330 ng/g), DBDPE (8470 ng/g), and ΣPFRs (11,000 ng/g) than those in other dust samples. The high dust ingestion values of BDE 209, DBDPE, and individual PFR were 0.28, 1.20, and <0.01-0.32 ng/kg bw/day and 7.37, 31.2, and <0.01-4.54 ng/kg bw/day for BDE 209, DBDPE, and individual PFR for adults and toddlers, respectively. The high dermal exposure values of individual PFR during sleeping were <0.01-0.23 and <0.01-0.36 ng/kg bw/day for adults and toddlers, respectively. More human exposure pathways other than dust ingestion should be considered, such as the dermal contact with beddings and furniture.

Zheng X ，Qiao L ，Covaci A ，Sun R ，Guo H ，Zheng J ，Luo X ，Xie Q ，Mai B ... -  《-》

Organophosphorus flame retardants (PFRs) and phthalates in floor and road dust from a manual e-waste dismantling facility and adjacent communities in Thailand.

Muenhor D ，Moon HB ，Lee S ，Goosey E ... -  《-》

Legacy and emerging organophosphοrus flame retardants in car dust from Greece: Implications for human exposure.

Organophosphorus flame retardants (PFRs) and emerging PFRs (ePFRs) are two groups of compounds used as replacements for brominated flame retardants (BFRs). They have already been detected in indoor dust (mainly in homes and offices). To date, few studies investigated the occurrence of FRs in car dust and the information of possible health risks is still limited. The present study reports on the investigation of the levels and profiles of eight target PFRs: tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEHP), tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP), triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPHP), tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCIPP), tri cresyl phosphate (TCP), tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) and four target ePFRs; 2,2-bis(chloromethyl)propane-1,3-diyltetrakis(2-chloroethyl)bisphosphate (V6), isodecyl diphenyl phosphate (iDDPHP), resorcinol bis(diphenylphosphate) (RDP) and bisphenol A-bis(diphenyl phosphate) (BDP) in car dust from Greece. The samples were collected from the interior of 25 private cars in Thessaloniki, Greece, with different years of manufacture (1997-2015) and continents of origin. After ultrasonic extraction and Florisil fractionation, the PFR analysis was carried out by GC-EI/MS, whereas the ePFRs were analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Levels of Σ8PFRs varied from 2000 to 190,000 ng g-1, with mean and median concentrations of 20,000 and 11,500 ng g-1, respectively. The concentrations of Σ4ePFRs ranged from 44 to 8700 ng g-1, with mean and median values at 1100 and 190 ng g-1, respectively. Estimations of human exposure showed that toddlers are more exposed than adults to both PFRs and ePFRs. Yet, the intake via dust ingestion and dermal absorption was several orders of magnitude lower than the corresponding reference doses.

Christia C ，Poma G ，Besis A ，Samara C ，Covaci A ... -  《-》