title: Polyhalogenated compounds (chlorinated paraffins, novel and classic flame retardants, POPs) in dishcloths after their regular use in households.
abstract: Dishcloths are routinely used in the clean-up process following daily kitchen activities and are thus subject to contamination commensurate with their frequent use. Here we analyzed dishcloths for the occurrence of polyhalogenated compounds after 14days of use in household kitchens. Analysis of 19 dishcloths revealed the presence of 29 polyhalogenated contaminants with total mean/median concentrations of 6,900/3,600ng/dishcloth, respectively. The spectrum featured classic and novel halogenated flame-retardants (HFRs) like polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB), chlordene plus and dechlorane plus, as well as typical chloropesticides and background contaminants (e.g. hexachlorobenzene (HCB), p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethene (p,p'-DDE), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and lindane). The individual dishcloths showed highly variable fingerprints of polyhalogenated compounds. If present, medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs) were by far the most prominent compound class with up to 55,400ng/dishcloth. Without consideration of chlorinated paraffins, the mean concentration of other polychlorinated compounds (270ng/dishcloth) was generally one order of magnitude lower than the mean concentration of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) (1,700ng/dishcloth). Our study verified that a wide range of polyhalogenated compounds is readily available in the kitchen environment. Furthermore, dishcloths are ordinarily handled without gloves or hand protection, given the observed concentrations of polyhalogenated compounds in dishcloths, such handling may serve as an additional exposure pathway for human users. Evaluation of this thesis was supported by conduction of a dermal uptake assessment.
authors.affiliation: University of Hohenheim, Institute of Food Chemistry (170b), Garbenstr. 28, D-70599 Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gallistl
authors.affiliation: University of Hohenheim, Institute of Food Chemistry (170b), Garbenstr. 28, D-70599 Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lok
authors.affiliation: University of Hohenheim, Institute of Food Chemistry (170b), Garbenstr. 28, D-70599 Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Annika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schlienz
authors.affiliation: University of Hohenheim, Institute of Food Chemistry (170b), Garbenstr. 28, D-70599 Stuttgart, Germany. Electronic address: walter.vetter@uni-hohenheim.de.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vetter
mesh_terms: D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006794:Household Articles; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis*; D010232:Paraffin / Q000032:analysis*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D013784:Textiles / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D010232:Paraffin; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Dishcloths; Halogenated flame retardants; Indoor environment; Novel BFRs; Polyhalogenated compounds; Skin adsorption