Flame retardants in urban air: A case study in Toronto targeting distinct source sectors. (April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Saini, Amandeep; Clarke, Jenna; Jariyasopit, Narumol; Rauert, Cassandra; Schuster, Jasmin K.; Halappanavar, Sabina; Evans, Greg J.; Su, Yushan; Harner, Tom
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 247(2019)
• Page Start: 89
• Page End: 97
• Publication Date: 2019-04
• Subjects: Urban air -- Source sectors -- Organophosphate esters -- Novel flame retardants -- PBDEs -- Passive sampling; 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.2019.01.027
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Based on distinct land-use categories, a sampling campaign was carried out at eight locations across Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area in 2016–2017. Source sectors' dependent patterns of atmospheric concentrations of 9 organophosphate esters (OPEs), 9 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and 5 novel flame retardants (NFRs) showed dominance of OPEs and PBDEs at highly commercialised urban and traffic sites, while NFRs, were dominant at residential sites. Overall, average concentrations of Σ9 OPEs (1790 pg/m 3 ) were two orders of magnitude higher than Σ9 PBDEs (9.17 pg/m 3 ) and Σ5 NFRs (8.14 pg/m 3 ). The atmospheric concentrations of given chemical classes also showed a general trend of lower levels in winter as compared to summer months. Statistically significant negative correlations between the natural logarithm of concentrations and inverse of temperature for some OPEs and PBDEs highlighted the role of volatilization from local sources at given sites as primarily influencing their atmospheric concentrations. Overall, this study adds to the current knowledge of urban settings as a major emitter of the chemicals of emerging concern and their replacements, as well as the ongoing problem of phased out PBDEs due to their presence in existing inventories of commercial/recycled products. It is recommended that long-term monitoring programs targeting flame retardants (FRs) include urban sites, which provide an early indicator of effectiveness of control measures of targeted FRs, while at the same time providing information on emission sources and trends of replacement FR chemicals. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Source sector based measurements of FR classes were made in urban air. OPEs were two orders of magnitude higher than PBDEs and NFRs in Toronto air. Highly commercialised urban and traffic sites dominate the concentrations' profile. Lack of strong gradient within sites suggests multitude of sources of FRs to air. Abstract : Source sectors based concentrations of three classes of flame retardants in an urban environment.