Detection of organophosphate flame retardants in furniture foam and U.S. house dust.
نویسندگان
چکیده
Restrictions on the use of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have resulted in the increased use of alternate flame retardant chemicals to meet flammability standards. However, it has been difficult to determine which chemical formulations are currently being used in high volumes to meet flammability standards since the use of flame retardant formulations in consumer products is not transparent (i.e., not provided to customers). To investigate chemicals being used as replacements for PentaBDE in polyurethane foam, we analyzed foam samples from 26 different pieces of furniture purchased in the United States primarily between 2003 and 2009. Samples included foam from couches, chairs, mattress pads, pillows, and, in one case, foam from a sound-proofing system of a laboratory-grade dust sieve, and were analyzed using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Fifteen of the foam samples contained the flame retardanttris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP; 1-5% by weight), four samples contained tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP; 0.5 -22% by weight), one sample contained brominated chemicals found in a new flame retardant mixture called Firemaster 550 (4.2% by weight), and one foam sample collected from a futon likely purchased prior to 2004 contained PentaBDE (0.5% by weight). Due to the high frequency of detection of the chlorinated phosphate compounds in furniture foam,we analyzed extracts from 50 house dust samples collected between 2002 and 2007 in the Boston, MA area for TDCPP, TCPP, and another high volume use organophosphate-based flame retardant used in foam, triphenylphosphate (TPP). Detection frequencies for TDCPP and TPP in the dust samples were > 96% and were log normally distributed, similar to observations for PBDEs. TCPP was positively detected in dust in only 24% of the samples, but detection was significantly limited by a coelution problem. The geometric mean concentrations for TCPP, TDCPP, and TPP in house dust were 570, 1890, and 7360 ng/g, respectively, and maximum values detected in dust were 5490, 56,080 and 1,798,000 ng/g, respectively. These data suggest that levels of these organophosphate flame retardants are comparable, or in some cases greater than, levels of PBDEs in house dust. The high prevalence of these chemicals in foam and the high concentrations measured in dust (as high as 1.8 mg/g) warrant further studies to evaluate potential health effects from dust exposure, particularly for children.
منابع مشابه
Detection and exposure assessment of organophosphate flame retardants in house dust in Japanese dwellings
Title Detection and intake assessment of organophosphate flame retardants in house dust in Japanese dwellings Author(s) Tajima, Shuji; Araki, Atsuko; Kawai, Toshio; Tsuboi, Tazuru; Ait Bamai, Yu; Yoshioka, Eiji; Kanazawa, Ayako; Cong, Shi; Kishi, Reiko Citation Science of The Total Environment, 478: 190-199 Issue Date 2014-04-15 Doc URL http://hdl.handle.net/2115/55347 Type article (author vers...
متن کاملEvaluating the Bioaccessibility of Flame Retardants in House Dust Using an In Vitro Tenax Bead-Assisted Sorptive Physiologically Based Method
Exposure to house dust is a significant source of exposure to flame retardant chemicals (FRs), particularly in the US. Given the high exposure there is a need to understand the bioaccessibility of FRs from dust. In this study, Tenax beads (TA) encapsulated within a stainless steel insert were used as an adsorption sink to estimate the dynamic absorption of a suite of FRs commonly detected in in...
متن کاملEndocrine Damper? Flame Retardants Linked to Male Hormone, Sperm Count Changes
Additive flame retardants such as tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP) and triphenyl phosphate (TPP), which are not chemically bonded to the products they are intended to protect, may escape into indoor environments such as homes, offices, and car interiors. A new study shows that men living in homes with higher amounts of TCDPP and TPP in their house dust had reduced sperm counts and ...
متن کاملIdentification of Flame Retardants in Polyurethane Foam Collected from Baby Products
With the phase-out of PentaBDE in 2004, alternative flame retardants are being used in polyurethane foam to meet flammability standards. However, insufficient information is available on the identity of the flame retardants currently in use. Baby products containing polyurethane foam must meet California state furniture flammability standards, which likely affects the use of flame retardants in...
متن کاملFormaldehyde Exposure among Children: A Potential Building Block of Asthma
Additive flame retardants such as tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP) and triphenyl phosphate (TPP), which are not chemically bonded to the products they are intended to protect, may escape into indoor environments such as homes, offices, and car interiors. A new study shows that men living in homes with higher amounts of TCDPP and TPP in their house dust had reduced sperm counts and ...
متن کاملذخیره در منابع من
با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید
برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید
ثبت ناماگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید
ورودعنوان ژورنال:
- Environmental science & technology
دوره 43 19 شماره
صفحات -
تاریخ انتشار 2009