Distribution of brominated flame retardants in different dust fractions in air from an electronics recycling facility.
Twelve air samples were collected from an electronic recycling facility in Sweden representing three different dust fractions; respirable, total and inhalable dust. Four samples were collected from each fraction. The highest concentration of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) #209 (ten bromine atoms) was found in the samples from the inhalable dust fraction (ID), which was 10 times higher than for the "total dust" fraction (TD). The concentration ranges were 157.6-208.6; 13.9-16.7; and 2.8-3.3 ng/m3 for inhalable, total and respirable fractions, respectively. The second most abundant PBDE congener was PBDE #183 (seven bromine atoms), followed by the second most abundant substance 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane (BTBPE) in all samples. In addition, decabromodiphenyl ethane (DeBDethane) was tentatively identified in five of the samples. Because of the large differences in air concentrations between the three fractions in ID, TD and RD, it is suggested that the inhalable instead of "total dust" fraction should be used to assess air concentrations, in particular for the larger and higher brominated flame retardants (BFRs).
Julander
Anneli
A
Man-Technology-Environment Research Centre, Department of Natural Sciences, Orebro University, S-701 82 Orebro, Sweden. anneli.julander@nat.oru.se
Westberg
Håkan
H
Engwall
Magnus
M
van Bavel
Bert
B
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis; D001969:Bromobenzenes; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004581:Electronics; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated / Q000032:analysis*; D010316:Particle Size; D010647:Phenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis*; D013548:Sweden
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D001969:Bromobenzenes; D004391:Dust; D005411:Flame Retardants; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; D010647:Phenyl Ethers; C491509:decabromodiphenyl ethane