Organophosphate flame retardants and plasticizers in indoor air.
Analytical methods were developed for a broad range of organophosphate flame retardants and plasticizers in indoor air. Screening was performed of various indoor environments at 12 locations in and around Zurich, Switzerland. Method recoveries ranged from 62% for triphenyl phosphate to 100% for tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate. Tris(2-chloro-isopropyl) phosphate was found in the highest concentration (260 ng/m(3)) mainly in cars and furniture stores. Tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate and triphenyl phosphate, both up to 3.4 ng/m(3), were also detected in quantifiable concentrations at several sites. Tris(1,3-dichloroisopropyl) phosphate, tricresyl phosphate and tri(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate were below the limit of quantification in all samples. The results of the risk assessment indicate that the observed concentrations are below the predicted threshold for human health effects.
EAWAG-Swiss Federal Institute for Environmental Science and Technology, Ueberlandstr. 133, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland. hartmapa@eawag.ch
Paul C
PC
Hartmann
Daniel
D
Bürgi
Walter
W
Giger
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D010755:Organophosphates / Q000032:analysis*; D010968:Plasticizers / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013557:Switzerland
D000393:Air Pollutants; D005411:Flame Retardants; D010755:Organophosphates; D010968:Plasticizers