After the PBDE Phase-Out: A Broad Suite of Flame Retardants in Repeat House Dust Samples from California
Top Cited Papers
Open Access
- 28 November 2012
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Chemical Society (ACS) in Environmental Science & Technology
- Vol. 46 (24), 13056-13066
- https://doi.org/10.1021/es303879n
Abstract
Higher house dust levels of PBDE flame retardants (FRs) have been reported in California than other parts of the world, due to the state’s furniture flammability standard. However, changing levels of these and other FRs have not been evaluated following the 2004 U.S. phase-out of PentaBDE and OctaBDE. We analyzed dust collected in 16 California homes in 2006 and again in 2011 for 62 FRs and organohalogens, which represents the broadest investigation of FRs in homes. Fifty-five compounds were detected in at least one sample; 41 in at least 50% of samples. Concentrations of chlorinated OPFRs, including two (TCEP and TDCIPP) listed as carcinogens under California’s Proposition 65, were found up to 0.01% in dust, higher than previously reported in the U.S. In 75% of the homes, we detected TDBPP, or brominated “Tris,” which was banned in children’s sleepwear because of carcinogenicity. To our knowledge, this is the first report on TDBPP in house dust. Concentrations of Firemaster 550 components (EH-TBB, BEH-TEBP, and TPHP) were higher in 2011 than 2006, consistent with its use as a PentaBDE replacement. Results highlight the evolving nature of FR exposures and suggest that manufacturers continue to use hazardous chemicals and replace chemicals of concern with chemicals with uncharacterized toxicity.Keywords
Funding Information
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
This publication has 51 references indexed in Scilit:
- A novel abbreviation standard for organobromine, organochlorine and organophosphorus flame retardants and some characteristics of the chemicalsEnvironment International, 2012
- A Comparison of PBDE Serum Concentrations in Mexican and Mexican-American Children Living in CaliforniaEnvironmental Health Perspectives, 2011
- Identification of Flame Retardants in Polyurethane Foam Collected from Baby ProductsEnvironmental Science & Technology, 2011
- Semivolatile Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds in Paired Indoor and Outdoor Air in Two Northern California CommunitiesEnvironmental Science & Technology, 2010
- Body burdens of brominated flame retardants and other persistent organo-halogenated compounds and their descriptors in US girlsEnvironmental Research, 2010
- House Dust Concentrations of Organophosphate Flame Retardants in Relation to Hormone Levels and Semen Quality ParametersEnvironmental Health Perspectives, 2010
- Linking Exposure Assessment Science With Policy Objectives for Environmental Justice and Breast Cancer Advocacy: The Northern California Household Exposure StudyAmerican Journal of Public Health, 2009
- Phthalates and other additives in plastics: human exposure and associated health outcomesPhilosophical Transactions B, 2009
- Occurrence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in indoor dustScience of The Total Environment, 2008
- Brominated flame retardants: cause for concern?Environmental Health Perspectives, 2004