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POLYBROMINATED DIPHENYL ETHERS IN HOUSE DUST AND CLOTHES DRYER LINT
Citation:
STAPLETON, H. M., N. G. DODDER, J. H. OFFENBERG, M. M. SCHANTZ, AND S. A. WISE. POLYBROMINATED DIPHENYL ETHERS IN HOUSE DUST AND CLOTHES DRYER LINT. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Indianapolis, IN, 39(4):925-931, (2005).
Impact/Purpose:
1. Present the findings of the literature review of the 33 classes of air toxic compounds to OAQPS. The compounds to be investigated under the present task will be based on recommendations by OAQPS.
2. Carry out laboratory investigations to fill in the gaps and reduce uncertainties in the gas phase chemical mechanisms of selected air toxic compounds.
3. Carry out computational chemistry investigations to fill in the gaps and reduce uncertainties in the gas phase chemical mechanisms of selected air toxic compounds compounds.
4. Based on the results of the laboratory and computational chemistry studies, develop improved gas phase chemical mechanisms for selected air toxic compounds that can be used to predict ambient concentrations.
Description:
Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants are now considered ubiquitous and persistent pollutants. Few studies have examined the concentrations of these chemicals in the home and here we report measurements of PBDEs in house dust samples collected from the Washington D.C. metropolitan area in the United States. These samples were analyzed for 22 individual PBDE congeners and our results found PBDEs present in every dust sample. Concentrations of total PBDEs ranged from 780 ng/g dry mass to 30,100 ng/g dry mass. The dominant congeners observed in the dust samples are congeners that are associated with the pentaBDE and decaBDE commercial mixtures. Ancillary data were collected on the homes and examined for any correlations with the trends in house dust PBDE concentrations. No correlations were observed with year of house construction, type of flooring (i.e. hardwood vs. carpet) or the number of television sets or personal computers in the home. However, a significant correlation (p<0.01) was observed between square footage of the home and the contribution of BDE 209 to the total PBDE concentration in dust. Clothes dryer lint was also sampled and analyzed for PBDEs from five of the homes and PBDEs were present in all five samples ranging from 480 to 3080 ng/g dry mass. This study demonstrates that PBDEs are prevalent at relatively high concentrations within homes where people, and particularly young children, may be susceptible to exposure.
Certain commercial equipment, instruments, or materials are identified in this paper to specify adequately the experimental procedure. Such identification does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor does it imply that the materials or equipment identified are necessarily the best available for the purpose.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency through its Office of Research and Development collaborated in the research described here. It has been subjected to Agency review and approved for publication.