Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in indoor and outdoor air in a community in Guangzhou, a megacity of southern China. (May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ding, Nan; Wang, Tao; Chen, She-Jun; Yu, Mei; Zhu, Zhi-Cheng; Tian, Mi; Luo, Xiao-Jun; Mai, Bi-Xian
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 212(2016)
• Page Start: 457
• Page End: 463
• Publication Date: 2016-05
• Subjects: Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) -- Indoor and outdoor air -- Source -- Seasonal variation -- Southern China; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.02.038
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Indoor environments contribute a significant portion of human exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) because of their extensive use in various household products. This study investigates the occurrence of a number of BFRs in the indoor and outdoor air in a megacity in southern China, in which little information on indoor BFRs contamination is available. The estimated total PBDE concentrations ranged from 1.43 to 57 pg/m 3 indoors and from 1.21 to 1522 pg/m 3 outdoors. The indoor concentrations of lower brominated PBDEs that are mainly derived from the technical penta- and octa-BDE mixtures were higher than or comparable to the outdoors, while the indoor levels of DecaBDEs and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) were apparently lower than the outdoors. The seasonal variations of BFR concentrations indicated that evaporation from old indoor products is the primary source of Penta- and OctaBDEs in the air, whereas most DecaBDEs and DBDPE concentrations showing weak temperature-dependence are largely released from industrial activities. The PBDE congener profiles in the air were generally similar, which were dominated by BDE209, 28, and 47; whereas the appreciable indoor–outdoor differences in the compositions are possibly due to emission sources, photochemical degradation, or congener-specific transport of BFRs in the indoor and outdoor air. Significant correlations between the indoor and outdoor BFRs were observed suggesting the exchange of BFRs between the two compartments, which are more noticeable for PentaBDEs and DecaBDEs with strong indoor and outdoor emission sources, respectively. This study provides significant insights into the sources of BFRs in urban air in China. Highlights: Air samples were collected using passive air samplers over more than one year. Indoor levels of banned PBDEs were higher than or comparable to outdoor levels. Emissions from old indoor products are the primary source of Penta- and OctaBDEs. Outdoor levels of DecaBDEs and DBDPE were apparently higher than indoors. DecaBDEs and DBDPE are largely released from industrial activities in South China. Abstract : Indoor environment is a significant source of restricted PBDEs but DecaBDEs and DBDPE are largely derived from industry in southern China.