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Characterization of organophosphorus flame retardants' sorption on building materials and consumer products
Citation:
Liu, X., M. Allen, AND N. Roache. Characterization of organophosphorus flame retardants' sorption on building materials and consumer products. ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 140:333-341, (2016).
Impact/Purpose:
Reliable experimental measurement or estimation of model parameters, such as material-air partition coefficient (Kma)and material-phase diffusion coefficient, is critical for the development and use of the mass transfer models to quantitatively predict SVOC emissions and transport mechanisms in indoor environment. Understanding the transport mechanisms of organophosphorus flame retardants between sources, air, airborne particles, house dust, and interior surfaces in the indoor environment is essential to accurately estimate indoor exposures and develop strategies that enlighten risk assessments and policy decisions to minimize exposures and protect human health.
Description:
Better understanding the transport mechanisms of organophosphorus flame-retardants (OPFRs) in the residential environment is important to more accurately estimate their indoor exposure and develop risk management strategies that protect human health. This study describes an improved dual small chamber testing method to characterize the sorption of OPFRs on indoor building materials and consumer products. The OPFRs studied were tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), tris(1-chlor-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP), and tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP). The test materials and products used as sinks include concrete, ceiling tile, vinyl flooring, carpet, latex painted gypsum wallboard, open cell polyurethane foam, mattress pad and liner, polyester clothing, cotton clothing, uniform shirt. During the tests, the amount of OPFRs absorbed by the materials at different exposure times was determined. OPFRs air concentrations at the inlet and inside the test chamber were monitored. The data were used to rank the sorption strength of the OPFRs on different materials. Carpet exhibited the strongest overall sorption among the materials tested, with building materials exhibiting relatively stronger sorption strength than clothing. The material-air partition and material phase diffusion coefficients were also estimated by fitting a sink model to the sorption concentration data for twelve materials with three OPFRs.
