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

This study was undertaken to investigate levels of organophosphorus flame retardants (PFRs) and phthalates in floor and road dust from a manual e-waste dismantling facility and nearby communities in Thailand. Concentrations of Σ10 PFRs and Σ6 phthalates in floor dust from the facility were approximately 36-1,700 and 86,000-790,000 ng g, whereas those from the communities were about 13-9,200 and 44,000-2,700,000 ng g, respectively. The highest content of Σ10 PFRs (9,200 ng g) and Σ6 phthalates (2,700,000 ng g) in indoor dust was both detected in the dust sampled from a house with no prevailing winds located 350 m northeast of the facility.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in floor and road dust from a manual e-waste dismantling facility and adjacent communities in Thailand.

This study characterizes concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in floor and road dust from a manual e-waste dismantling facility and adjacent communities in Thailand. Levels of Σ22 PBDEs in floor dust from the facility varied between 1,200 and 43,000 ng g, whereas those from adjacent communities were in the range 6.6-2,200 ng g.

Product screening for sources of halogenated flame retardants in Canadian house and office dust.

Human exposure to halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and their replacements, can be related to exposure to indoor dust and direct contact with HFR-containing products. This study aimed to identify electronic products that contributed to HFRs measured in indoor dust and to develop a screening method for identifying HFRs in hard polymer products. Concentrations of 10 PBDEs and 12 halogenated replacements in dust and surface wipe samples of hard polymer casings of electronic products plus Br in the surfaces of those casing measured using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) were analyzed from 35 homes and 10 offices in Toronto (ON, Canada).

Calibration of two passive air samplers for monitoring phthalates and brominated flame-retardants in indoor air.

Two passive air samplers (PAS), polyurethane foam (PUF) disks and Sorbent Impregnated PUF (SIP) disks, were characterized for uptake of phthalates and brominated flame-retardants (BFRs) indoors using fully and partially sheltered housings. Based on calibration against an active low-volume air sampler for gas- and particle-phase compounds, we recommend generic sampling rates of 3.5±0.

Interlaboratory study of novel halogenated flame retardants: INTERFLAB.

Flame retardants (FRs) have come under considerable scientific and public scrutiny over the past decade. A lack of reference materials and standardized analytical methods has resulted in questions regarding the variation of measurements from different studies. We evaluated this variation by performing an international interlaboratory study assessing analytical capabilities as well as the accuracy and precision of results for a range of flame retardants (International Flame Retardant Laboratory Study, INTERFLAB).

Concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in matched samples of indoor dust and breast milk in New Zealand.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are present in many consumer goods. There is evidence that PBDEs are toxic to humans, particular young children. The purpose of this study was to assess indoor dust as an exposure source for PBDEs.

Perfluoroalkyl substances in UK indoor and outdoor air: spatial and seasonal variation, and implications for human exposure.

This study reports atmospheric concentrations of a number of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in homes, offices, and outdoor locations in Birmingham, UK during 2008 and 2009. Concentrations indoors exceed significantly those outdoors, suggesting indoor emissions are driving outdoor contamination. The exception is N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamide (EtFOSA), for which indoor and outdoor concentrations are statistically indistinguishable, implying other sources for this compound.

Occurrence of alternative flame retardants in indoor dust from New Zealand: indoor sources and human exposure assessment.

Due to worldwide restrictions on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), the demand for alternative flame retardants (AFRs), such as organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs), novel brominated FRs (NBFRs) and hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs), has recently increased. Little is known about human exposure to NBFRs and OPFRs and that their levels in dust have been scarcely evaluated worldwide. To increase the knowledge regarding these chemicals, we measured concentrations of five major NBFRs, ten OPFRs and three HBCD isomers in indoor dust from New Zealand homes.

"Novel" brominated flame retardants in Belgian and UK indoor dust: implications for human exposure.

Concentrations of several "novel" brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) are reported in indoor dust samples from Belgian houses (n=39) and offices (n=6) and from day-care centers and schools in the West Midlands of the UK (n=36). Using a GC-ECNI/MS method, the following NBFRs were quantified: decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) (range <20-2470 ng g(-1)), 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane (BTBPE) (range <0.5-1740 ng g(-1)), tetrabromobisphenol A-bis(2,3-dibromopropylether) (TBBPA-DBPE) (range <20-9960 ng g(-1)), 2-ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (TBB) (range <2-436 ng g(-1)) and bis(2-ethylhexyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrabromophthalate (TBPH) (range <2-6175 ng g(-1)).

Perfluoroalkyl compounds in dust from Asian, Australian, European, and North American homes and UK cars, classrooms, and offices.

Perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) were measured in dust from Australian, Canadian, French, German, Kazahkstani, Thai, UK, and US homes, and UK cars, classrooms, and offices. Most PFCs were significantly lower in Kazahkstan and Thailand than elsewhere; 2-(N-methylperfluoro-1-octanesulfonamido)-ethanol (MeFOSE) and 2-(N-ethylperfluoro-1-octanesulfonamido)-ethanol (EtFOSE) were significantly lower in Canada than in the UK and the US; perfluoro-1-hexanesulfonate (PFHxS) was significantly lower in Canada than in the UK, and N-ethylperfluoro-1-octanesulfonamide (EtFOSA) was significantly higher in Australia than in the UK. High EtFOSA concentrations in some samples may be consistent with its use as an insecticide.

Dust from U.K. primary school classrooms and daycare centers: the significance of dust as a pathway of exposure of young U.K. children to brominated flame retardants and polychlorinated biphenyls.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs), tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBP-A), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in floor dust from U.K. child daycare center and primary school classrooms (n = 43, 36 for PCBs).