title: Comprehensive characterisation of flame retardants in textile furnishings by ambient high resolution mass spectrometry, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and environmental forensic microscopy.
abstract: The presence and levels of flame retardants (FRs), such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and organophosphate flame retardants (PFRs), was determined in textile home furnishings, such as carpets and curtains from stores in Belgium. A comprehensive characterisation of FRs in textile was done by ambient high resolution mass spectrometry (qualitative screening), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) (quantitation), and environmental forensic microscopy (surface distribution). Ambient ionisation coupled to a time-of-flight (TOF) high resolution mass spectrometer (direct probe-TOF-MS) was investigated for the rapid screening of FRs. Direct probe-TOF-MS proved to be useful for a first screening step of textiles to detect FRs below the levels required to impart flame retardancy and to reduce, in this way, the number of samples for further quantitative analysis. Samples were analysed by GC-MS to confirm the results obtained by ambient mass spectrometry and to obtain quantitative information. The levels of PBDEs and PFRs were typically too low to impart flame retardancy. Only high levels of BDE-209 (11-18% by weight) were discovered and investigated in localised hotspots by employing forensic microscopy techniques. Most of the samples were made of polymeric materials known to be inherently flame retarded to some extent, so it is likely that other alternative and halogen-free FR treatments/solutions are preferred for the textiles on the Belgian market.
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; Institute for Environmental Studies, VU University, de Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Alin C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ionas
authors.affiliation: Institute for Environmental Studies, VU University, de Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ballesteros Gómez
authors.affiliation: Center for Material Cycles and Waste Management Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan.
authors.forename: Natsuyo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.affiliation: Center for Material Cycles and Waste Management Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan.
authors.forename: Go
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Center for Material Cycles and Waste Management Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan.
authors.forename: Natsuko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kajiwara
authors.affiliation: Center for Material Cycles and Waste Management Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan.
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takata
authors.affiliation: Center for Material Cycles and Waste Management Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidetaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takigami
authors.affiliation: Institute for Environmental Studies, VU University, de Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Pim E G
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Leonards
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Covaci
mesh_terms: D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D044707:Forensic Sciences; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D013784:Textiles / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005411:Flame Retardants
keywords: Flame retardants; Home furnishings; Mass spectrometry; PBDEs; PFRs; Textiles