title: Hexabromocyclododecane in polystyrene based consumer products: an evidence of unregulated use.
abstract: Polystyrene (PS) is made flame retardant by combining with hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD). HBCD can release from consumer products during their production, use or disposal. As a result, it has become a ubiquitous contaminant in the environment with a high potential for bioaccumulation. Therefore, to evaluate the extent of exposure to HBCD from PS, we determined the concentration of HBCD in a variety of products (n=34) made from three types of commonly used PS: expanded PS (EPS), extruded PS foam (XPS), and extruded PS. The concentration of HBCD was highest in EPS, with a mean value and range of 475643±16710ngg(-1) and 106-960000ngg(-1), respectively. PS related to building construction and laboratory uses had a significantly higher concentration of HBCD (3300-905000ngg(-1)), except XPS styroboard (191±100ngg(-1)). Lower concentrations were measured in most food-related products (24.3-199ngg(-1)). However, a relatively high concentration of HBCD was detected in an ice box (960000±29000ngg(-1)), aquaculture buoy (53500±2100ngg(-1)), and disposable tray (8430±730ngg(-1)) used in fish market, raising concern for public health. Our data demonstrate a wide variation in the concentration of HBCD, suggesting a lack of proper controls for the addition of HBCD to PS products. Other brominated flame retardants (BFRs) were also detected in a majority of the XPS products (TBBPA=3.83-545ngg(-1), BTBPE=44-216ngg(-1) and DBDPE=215-4200ngg(-1)). Thus, HBCD is being added to PS along with other BFRs that cannot be ignored.
authors.affiliation: Oil and POPs Research Group, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje-shi 656-834, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Manviri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rani
authors.affiliation: Oil and POPs Research Group, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje-shi 656-834, Republic of Korea; University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-320, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Won Joon
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.affiliation: Oil and POPs Research Group, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje-shi 656-834, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Gi Myung
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Oil and POPs Research Group, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje-shi 656-834, Republic of Korea; University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-320, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Mi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Oil and POPs Research Group, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje-shi 656-834, Republic of Korea; University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-320, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Kyoung
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Oil and POPs Research Group, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje-shi 656-834, Republic of Korea; University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-320, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: shhong@kiost.ac.
authors.forename: Sang Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D018857:Food Packaging; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated / Q000032:analysis*; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005411:Flame Retardants; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; D011137:Polystyrenes; C089796:hexabromocyclododecane
keywords: Brominated flame retardants; HBCD; Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry; Polystyrene products