Dioxin-like activities, halogenated flame retardants, organophosphate esters and chlorinated paraffins in dust from Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Sweden and China.
The concentrations of organic flame retardants (FRs) and dioxin-like activities in dust collected from five countries were investigated. The correlations between the concentrations of the different groups of FRs and dioxin-like activities were examined. Chlorinated paraffins (CPs, C9to C31) were found in the highest concentration (median ∑CP 700 μg/g, range 280-4750 μg/g), followed by organophosphate esters (median ∑13OPEs 56 μg/g, range 21-110 μg/g), halogenated flame retardants (median ∑17HFRs 3.3 μg/g, range 0.87-14 μg/g) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (median ∑17PBDEs 2.8 μg/g, range 0.46-11 μg/g). There were no significant differences in concentrations of the FRs among the countries but differences in PBDE and CP congener profiles were found. BDE209 predominated in dust from Australia, the UK, Sweden and China, ranging from 50 to 70% of total PBDEs. The lowest percentage of BDE209 was found in the dust from Canada, representing only 20% of total PBDEs. For CPs in dust from Sweden, the long-chain CPs (especially C18congeners) predominated, while for other countries, medium-chain CPs (especially C14congeners) predominated. The dioxin-activities of the dusts ranged from 58 to 590 pg CALUX-TEQ/g, and had a median of 200 pg CALUX-TEQ/g. There were significant positive correlations between concentrations of PBDEs and CPs with dioxin-like activities. The dioxin-like activity may be due to the presence of polychlorinated or polybrominated dioxin/furans (PBDD/DFs) or polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) in the dust. The PBDD/DFs are known impurities and degradation product of the penta-BDE mixture, and PCNs are known impurities of CPs which exhibit dioxin-like activities.
Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES), Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: fiona.wong@canada.ca.
Fiona
F
Wong
Center for Material Cycles and Waste Management Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan; Center for Health and Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan.
Go
G
Suzuki
Center for Material Cycles and Waste Management Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan.
Chieko
C
Michinaka
Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES), Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
Bo
B
Yuan
Center for Material Cycles and Waste Management Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan.
Hidetaka
H
Takigami
Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES), Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
Cynthia A
CA
de Wit
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D002170:Canada; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002681:China; D004147:Dioxins / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004952:Esters; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010755:Organophosphates / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D010232:Paraffin / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000378:metabolism; D013548:Sweden; D006113:United Kingdom
D000393:Air Pollutants; D004147:Dioxins; D004391:Dust; D004952:Esters; D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D010755:Organophosphates; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; D010232:Paraffin; D008156:Luciferases
Chlorinated paraffins; Dioxin-like activity; Dust; Halogenated flame retardants; Organophosphate esters; Polybrominated diphenyl ethers