Occurrence of legacy and emerging organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) on silicone wristbands: Comparison within couples

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2024-12, Vol.955, p.177154, Article 177154
• Main Authors: Liu, Jiaying, Gao, Fumei, Fu, Min, Wang, Lei, Shen, Huan, Hu, Jianying
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Emerging chemicals; Environmental Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Environmental Pollution - statistics & numerical data; Flame retardants; Flame Retardants - analysis; Flame Retardants - toxicity; Non-dietary exposure; Organophosphate esters; Organophosphates - analysis; Organophosphates - toxicity; Persistent Organic Pollutants - chemistry; Persistent Organic Pollutants - toxicity; Silicones - chemistry; Wristband
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177154

Novel organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are recently identified and highly detected in indoor dusts, but their personal exposure was not clear. Here, wristband was used to estimate non-dietary exposure to emerging OPFRs in comparison with legacy OPFRs in 93 adults in Beijing, China. Comparison of studies in wristband monitoring data showed a clear difference in profiles of legacy OPFRs between China and United States, where tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) was usually the dominant OPFR in the United States, but triphenyl phosphate has the highest contribution to total OPFRs in China. Five emerging OPFRs, including diethylene glycol bis(bis(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate) (DEGBBCPP) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phenyl phosphate (BEHPP), were detected in above 45 % of wristbands. The median concentration of DEGBBCPP (2.2 ng/g) was about three times higher than TDCIPP (0.76 ng/g), a legacy chloro-OPFR. Both emerging and legacy OPFRs were significantly correlated within 40 pairs of couples, suggesting major exposure in their homes. Wristbands from husbands had significantly higher tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP) and DEGBBCPP, while 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPP) was significantly higher in wives' bands, suggesting gender-related exposure sources for these OPFRs. [Display omitted] •Median concentration of DEGBBCPP, an emerging chloro-OPFR, is higher than TDCIPP.•Correlation of monitoring data within couples indicates major exposure in homes.•Distinct profiles of legacy OPFRs in wristbands between China and United States.