Chemical exposures from upholstered furniture with various flame retardant technologies. (24th February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Davis, Aika; Ryan, P. Barry; Cohen, Jordan A.; Harris, Debra; Black, Marilyn
• Is Part Of: Indoor air. Volume 31:Number 5(2021)
• Page Start: 1473
• Page End: 1483
• Publication Date: 2021-02-24
• Subjects: dermal -- exposure -- flame retardants -- ingestion -- inhalation -- upholstered furniture -- volatile organic compounds; Indoor air pollution -- Periodicals; Sick building syndrome -- Periodicals; Ventilation -- Periodicals; 613.5
• DOI: 10.1111/ina.12805
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0905-6947

Abstract

Abstract: Upholstered furniture is often manufactured with polyurethane foam (PUF) containing flame retardants (FRs) to prevent the risk of a fire and/or to meet flammability regulations, however, exposure to certain FRs and other chemicals have been linked to adverse health effects. This study developed a new methodology for evaluating volatile organic compound (VOC) and FR exposures to users of upholstered furniture by simulating use of a chair in a controlled exposure chamber and assessing the health significance of measured chemical exposure. Chairs with different fire‐resistant technologies were evaluated for VOC and FR exposures via inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact exposure routes. Data show that VOC exposure levels are lower than threshold levels defined by the US and global indoor air criteria. Brominated FRs were not detected from the studied chairs. The organophosphate FRs added to PUF were released into the surrounding air (0.4 ng/m 3 ) and as dust (16 ng/m 2 ). Exposure modeling showed that adults are exposed to FRs released from upholstered furniture mostly by dermal contact and children are exposed via dermal and ingestion exposure. Children are most susceptible to FR exposure/dose (2 times higher average daily dose than adults) due to their frequent hand to mouth contact.