title: Non-PBDE halogenated flame retardants in Canadian indoor house dust: sampling, analysis, and occurrence.
abstract: An analytical method was developed for the measurement of 18 novel halogenated flame retardants in house dust. Sample preparation was based on ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction and clean up with solid phase extraction (SPE). Sample extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) operated in electron capture negative ion (ECNI) chemical ionization mode. Baseline data from 351 fresh (active) dust samples collected under the Canadian House Dust Study (CHDS) revealed that five out of 18 target chemicals were present with detection frequencies higher than 90 %. Median (range) concentrations for these five compounds were as follows: 104 (<1.5-13,000) ng/g for 2-ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (EHTBB), 8.5 (<1.7-2390) ng/g for 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane (BTBPE), 10.2 (<1.7-430) ng/g for hexabromobenzene (HBB), 2.9 (<1.2-1410) ng/g for syn-dechlorane plus (syn-DP) and 5.6 (<1.9-1570) ng/g for anti-dechlorane plus (anti-DP). A comparison of two sampling methods in a subset of 40 homes showed significant positive correlations between samples of "active" dust and samples taken directly from the household vacuum cleaner for all target compounds having median values above their corresponding method detection limits (MDLs). In addition, the method was also applied to the analysis of the targeted compounds in National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standard reference material (SRM 2585, organic contaminants in house dust). Results from the current study could contribute to the potential certification of target chemicals in SRM 2585.
authors.affiliation: Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada.
authors.forename: Xinghua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada. Cariton.Kubwabo@canada.ca.
authors.forename: Cariton
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kubwabo
authors.affiliation: Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada.
authors.forename: Pat E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.affiliation: Ministry of the Environment of Ontario and Climate Change, Toronto, ON, M9P 3V6, Canada.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D001565:Benzoates / Q000032:analysis*; D001969:Bromobenzenes / Q000032:analysis*; D002170:Canada; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction
chemical_list: C576261:2-ethylhexyl 2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate; D001565:Benzoates; D001969:Bromobenzenes; D004391:Dust; D005411:Flame Retardants; C081014:1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane; C017363:hexabromobenzene
keywords: Electron capture negative ion chemical ionization; Flame retardants; Indoor house dust; Mass spectrometry; SRM 2585; Sampling techniques; Solid phase extraction