Seasonal and source characteristics of organophosphorus flame retardants in air and house dust in Taiwan residential microenvironments: Implications for young children's exposure and risk assessment using a probabilistic approach. (1st February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lu, Quang-Oai; Jung, Chien-Cheng; Liu, Yu-Hsuan; Chang, Wei-Hsiang
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 318(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-02-01
• Subjects: Organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) -- Sources -- Children -- Residential microenvironment -- Probabilistic health risk assessment; ADD Average daily intake dose -- BW Body weight -- Cl-OPFR Chlorinated alkyl phosphate -- CPSC Consumer Product Safety Commission -- EHDPP 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate -- FR Flame retardant -- HI Hazard index -- HQ Hazard quotient -- (L)ADD Lifetime ADD -- LOQ Limit of quantitation -- MCS P95 Monte Carlo simulation, 95th percentile -- NCKUH National Cheng Kung University Hospital -- NCl-OPFR Non-chlorinated alkyl phosphate -- OPFR Organophosphorus flame retardant -- PCA Principal component analysis -- PUF Polyurethane foam -- PVC Polyvinyl chloride -- RfD Reference dose -- Taiwan EPA Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration -- TBOEP Tris(2-butoxyethyl)phosphate -- TBP Tributyl phosphate -- TCEP Tris(2-chloroethyl)phosphate -- TCIPP Tris(1-chloro-2-propyl)phosphate -- TCP Tri-cresyl phosphate -- TDCIPP Tris(1, 3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate -- TEHP Tris(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate -- TEP Triethyl phosphate -- TiBP Tri(isobutyl)phosphate -- TPhP Triphenyl phosphate -- USEPA US Environmental Protection Agency; 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.2022.120893
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are prevalent in multiple industries. They have gradually replaced brominated flame retardants in recent years. Eleven OPFRs were collected from indoor air and house dust in two primary activity spaces––bedrooms and living rooms. The aim of the present study was to explore the potential sources of, and health risks associated with, OPFR exposure in young children using integrated and probabilistic approaches. The level of 11 indoor air OPFRs (466 ng/m 3 ) in the bedroom was greater than that measured in the living room (379 ng/m 3 ), and these values contrasted with those detected in dust. The air OPFRs in the warmer season were higher than those measured in the cold season; the inverse was true for those detected in house dust. In both activity spaces, the composition profiles indicated that tris(1-chloro-2-propyl)phosphate in indoor air (39%) and tris(2-butoxyethyl)phosphate in house dust (67%) were the dominant congeners. The average daily exposure dose (ADD) of OPFRs via air inhalation and dust ingestion did not differ significantly between preschool and school-aged children or based on sex. The Monte-Carlo-simulated 95th percentile ADD of the OPFRs in dust ingested by preschool children was 1.4 times higher. The OPFR exposure from air inhalation and dust ingestion in Taiwanese children is currently an acceptable non-carcinogenic risk and a negligible carcinogenic risk to Taiwan residents. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: The dominant compound of indoor air and dust was tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate. In contrast with indoor air, high levels of OPFRs in dust were detected in cold season. High levels of OPFRs in indoor air and dust were found in bedroom. The main source of OPFRs in residential microenvironment is wood furniture. Exposure to OPFRs posed negligible non-cancer and cancer risk of Taiwan residents.