In this study, we investigated chemical additives present in new and used spray polyurethane foams (SPFs) and assessed the dermal transfer through direct contact. This first study shows that cured do-it-yourself spray one-component SPFs (OCFs) often contain chlorinated paraffins (C-C), and tris (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCIPP), ranging 0.2-50%, and 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPolychlorinated n-alkanes or chlorinated paraffins (CPs) contain a magnitude of structural isomers and are categorized as short-chain (SCCPs), medium-chain (MCCPs), and long-chain (LCCPs) CPs, according to the carbon chain lengths. In this study the ƩSCCPs, ƩMCCPs, and ƩLCCP concentrations are reported for South African indoor dust and pet cat hair. The median concentrations of the ƩCPs (C-C) ranged from 33 to 663 μg/g for freshly collected dust (FD), 36-488 μg/g for dust collected from household vacuum cleaner bags (VD), and 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFlame retardants (FRs), such as brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs), are diverse groups of compounds used in various products related to the indoor environment. In this study concentrations of eight polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), two alternative BFRs and ten OPFRs were determined in indoor dust (n = 20) and pet cat hair (n = 11) from South Africa. The OPFRs were the major FRs, contributing to more than 97% of the total FR concentration.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChlorinated paraffins (CPs) are used in various products to improve their physicochemical characteristics. Due to recycling, CPs may end up in "new" recycled products. In this study we investigated CPs present in end-of-life car tires that are recycled to rubber granulates used on artificial soccer fields, and playground tiles.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe coupling of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry offers the best separation efficiency combined with accurate mass measurements over a wide mass range. The tremendous power of this screening tool is illustrated by trace qualitative screening analysis of organohalogenated compounds (OHCs) in pet cat hair. Tentative identification was supported by mass spectral database searches and elemental formula prediction from the experimentally determined accurate mass data.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWorld-wide, the prevalence of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) is well documented for routine analysis of environmental and biological matrices. There is, however, limited information on these compounds in the African environment and insufficient information on the analytical approaches used to obtain data. This paper presents a review on BFR levels in the African environment and the various analytical methodologies specifically applied in Africa for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polybrominated biphenyls and alternative-BFRs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSodium fluoride in concentrations of 1 to 2 % is used to prevent the formation of ethanol in blood and urine samples that are to be analysed for ethanol content. The majority of such samples form part of forensic investigations into alleged drunken driving. In South Africa, the laboratory performing the tests is required to prove that the sodium fluoride concentration in the blood samples is above 1 g/100 ml on receipt.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Rosa roxburghii (RR) is a plant of which the fruit juice has been used as a medicinal remedy for a variety of diseases. It has been proposed that the putative beneficial properties are related to its antioxidant potential.
Aim Of Study: We investigated the contribution of a supplemented RR fruit sample on the antioxidant status in a cohort of healthy humans.