Brominated flame retardants in the indoor environment — Comparative study of indoor contamination from three countries. (September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Venier, Marta; Audy, Ondřej; Vojta, Šimon; Bečanová, Jitka; Romanak, Kevin; Melymuk, Lisa; Krátká, Martina; Kukučka, Petr; Okeme, Joseph; Saini, Amandeep; Diamond, Miriam L.; Klánová, Jana
• Is Part Of: Environment international. Volume 94(2016:Sep.)
• Page Start: 150
• Page End: 160
• Publication Date: 2016-09
• Subjects: Brominated flame retardants -- Indoor -- Air -- Dust -- Window film; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Protection -- Périodiques; Hygiène du milieu -- Périodiques; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Périodiques; Environmental health; Environmental monitoring; Environmental protection; Periodicals; 333.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2016.04.029
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-4120

Abstract

Abstract: Concentrations of more than 20 brominated flame retardants (FRs), including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and emerging FRs, were measured in air, dust and window wipes from 63 homes in Canada, the Czech Republic and the United States in the spring and summer of 2013. Among the PBDEs, the highest concentrations were generally BDE-209 in all three matrices, followed by Penta-BDEs. Among alternative FRs, EHTBB and BEHTBP were detected at the highest concentrations. DBDPE was also a major alternative FR detected in dust and air. Bromobenzenes were detected at lower levels than PBDEs and other alternative FRs; among the bromobenzenes, HBB and PBEB were the most abundant compounds. In general, FR levels were highest in the US and lowest in the Czech Republic — a geographic trend that reflects the flame retardants' market. No statistically significant differences were detected between bedroom and living room FR concentrations in the same house ( n = 10), suggesting that sources of FRs are widespread indoors and mixing between rooms. The concentrations of FRs in air, dust, and window film were significantly correlated, especially for PBDEs. We found a significant relationship between the concentrations in dust and window film and in the gas phase for FRs with log K OA values < 14, suggesting that equilibrium was reached for these but not compounds with log K OA values > 14. This hypothesis was confirmed by a large discrepancy between values predicted using a partitioning model and the measured values for FRs with log K OA values > 14. Highlights: Brominated flame retardants in indoor air, dust and window wipes from 3 countries In general, FR levels were highest in the US and lowest in the Czech Republic. No differences were detected between bedroom and living room FR concentrations. Concentrations of FRs in air, dust, and window film were significantly correlated.