Organophosphate Flame Retardants in Shanghai Indoor Dust: A 2016 Historical Baseline of Seasonal Variability, Microenvironmental Profiles, and Human Exposure
Aug 2026· Toxics· Vol 14, pp. 758· 0 citations· 53 references
Abstract
Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are additive chemicals that migrate from indoor materials and accumulate in settled dust. This study retrospectively characterized eight OPFRs in floor dust collected in Shanghai during 2016 to establish a seasonally resolved historical reference. A total of 136 residential dust samples were obtained from a convenience panel of 26 homes sampled at approximately two-month intervals; five office and four dormitory composite samples were included only for exploratory microenvironmental comparisons. Sampling, extraction, and LC-MS/MS determination were all completed in 2016. OPFRs were detected in all samples. Median (mean) Σ8OPFR concentrations were 1.51 × 103 (4.35 × 103), 2.48 × 103 (3.36 × 103), and 673 (963) ng·g−1 in residential, office, and dormitory dust, respectively, and chlorinated OPFRs—particularly tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate and tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate—dominated. Mixed-effects models accounting for repeated sampling confirmed significant season effects for Σ8OPFRs and all frequently detected congeners, with autumn generally lower than spring or winter. Under the mean 2016 concentration scenario, uptake-adjusted total estimated daily intakes were 3.3 ng·kg−1·day−1 for infants and 0.65 ng·kg−1·day−1 for adults. Oral administered-dose screening values did not exceed the selected non-cancer or cancer benchmarks. These measurements do not represent current exposure but provide a historical benchmark for method-matched follow-up monitoring.
Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are widely used additive chemicals that can migrate into food during production, processing, and packaging, yet data on their occurrence and dietary risk in Taiwan remain limited. In this study, a validated high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method was established for the determination of 16 legacy and emerging OPFRs in 150 commercial food samples covering 15 major food categories available on the Taiwanese market. Population exposure was further evaluated by Monte Carlo simulation across 14 age- and sex-specific groups. OPFRs were widely detected in the sampled products, with tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP) showing the highest detection frequency. Contamination was heterogeneously distributed across food categories, with the highest levels observed in sauces and seasonings, particularly spice sauces, and elevated concentrations also found in oils, poultry, seafood, whole grains, and livestock products. Processed foods generally contained higher OPFR levels than their unprocessed counterparts. Food lipid content was positively associated with ΣOPFR concentrations, but packaging-related differences could not be substantiated due to limited sample size. Dietary exposure varied markedly by age, with the highest modeled intakes observed in children aged 3-6 years, followed by infants aged 0-3 years. TCIPP and trimethyl phosphate (TMP) were the major contributors to total dietary exposure. Despite these differences, all endpoint-specific non-carcinogenic risks remained below the level of concern (hazard index, HI < 1), and estimated carcinogenic risks for TMP, TCEP, TNBP, and TEHP were below 10-6. Overall, these findings indicate no immediate dietary health concern based on this market snapshot under the current assessment scenario, while supporting continued monitoring and refined cumulative risk assessment, particularly for young children and highly processed foods.
PM10 (particles with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 10 μm) is a carrier of toxic elements from diverse sources. This study examined the origin and potential health risks associated with trace elements in PM10 during the dry season in Ghana. A Gent sampler, equipped with a Gast pump and a stacked filter unit, was employed to collect airborne particulates at the Winneba Highway Intersection (WHI) and the Apam Fish-smoking Community (AFC). Sampling was conducted three times per week from November 2022 to March 2023, with each session lasting 24 h. The particulate samples were analysed for elemental and Black Carbon (BC) concentrations using Ag-anode X-ray tube spectrometer and a smoke stain reflectometer, respectively. The US EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) and health risk assessment models evaluated air quality and elemental toxicity risks, respectively. Notably, the average levels of Chromium (77 ng/m3) and Nickel (210 ng/m3) at WHI, and Chromium (310 ng/m3) and Nickel (470 ng/m3) at AFC, exceeded the US EPA threshold limits. Pearson’s correlation model linked BC, sulphur, and potassium to combustion-related emission sources. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed that PM10 at WHI originated from fugitive dust and sea salt, vehicular emissions, and minor industrial activities, whereas sea salt, dust, biomass burning, and vehicular emissions contributed to PM10 at AFC. AQI ratings indicated moderate air quality during December to February, implying potential health risks for sensitive populations. Cancer risk levels were relatively higher in adults than in children. Adopting clean fuels and sustainable transport is vital to reducing PM₁₀ health risks.
Francis Attiogbe, G. Safo-Adu, F. Ofosu et al.· Asian Journal of Atmospheric...· 0 citations
Workers in the e-waste industry are exposed to chemical hazards, including organophosphate esters (OPEs) used as flame retardants (FRs). Assessing exposure through spot urine metabolite analysis is challenging due to limited knowledge of the toxicokinetics and urinary excretion patterns of OPEs. This pilot study investigates the temporal variability of seven organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) in urine samples from e-waste workers over five workdays to identify the most representative spot urine sample for accurately assessing occupational exposure. Six exposed workers provided urine samples from the first shift of the working week to the morning after the last workday. Seven metabolites, (bis(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (BCEP), diphenyl phosphate (DPHP), di-o-cresyl phosphate (DoCP), di-m-cresyl phosphate (DmCP), di-p-cresyl phosphate (DpCP), bis(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BDCPP) and bis-(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BCPP)), were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. DmCP + DpCP showed weekly increases and fair to good intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), indicating moderate temporal variability across days. Conversely, DPHP and BCEP showed rapid decreases and lower ICC, suggesting higher intra-day variability. A grouping approach based on collection time and workday showed that the suitable spot urine is 2–5 h delayed post-shift for BCEP and DPHP, whereas the end of the workweek is the most appropriate time for DmCP + DpCP. This pilot study provides preliminary information on temporal variability to inform sampling design. This approach could be extended to a broader range of FRs, thereby enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of occupational biomonitoring.
Baninia Habchi, Guillaume Antoine, Aurélie Martin Remy et al.· Toxics· 0 citations
The results of the total carcinogenic risk for children aged 7–12 years in all schools caused by the presence of PAHs compounds in outdoor environments was acceptable and in some indoor environments, the values at certain schools exceeded the standard threshold of 10− 6-10− 4, indicating potential health risks.
Mohamad Firdaus Ismail, M. F. Fadzil, Nur Atifah binti Mohd Naim et al.· Asian Journal of Atmospheric...· 0 citations
Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) are common constituents of crude oil and its refined products, and they can be released into the ambient environment during oil exploitation activities, potentially adversely affecting environmental and human health. Herein, forehead (n=76) and hand wipes (n=76) and urine samples (n=102) from oilfield workers as well as indoor dust samples (n=19) (not individually paired with skin wipe and urine samples) in the oil exploitation area were collected, and 45 PACs and 15 PAC metabolites (mPACs) in these matrices were comparably determined. The median concentrations of ∑PACs in forehead and hand wipes and ∑mPACs in urine were 1.2-4.3 times higher in frontline workers than those in office administrators. Significant differences in PAC profiles were observed between different matrices, with relatively hydrophilic PACs being least in indoor dust, intermediate in hand wipes, and most abundant in forehead wipes. Furthermore, five PACs in forehead and hand wipes and their corresponding mPACs in urine exhibited significant positive correlations. Exposure assessment indicated that dermal uptake of low molecular weight (LMW) PACs contributed dominantly to internal exposure (20.2%-67.4%) compared to dust ingestion (< 2%). The quantile g-computation model revealed that hydroxynaphthalene (∑OH-Nap), 1-OH-pyrene, and 2-OH-dibenzofuran were the major contributors to the mPAC mixture's effect on lipid peroxidation, and dermal exposure may represent a potential pathway by which LMW PACs, particularly Nap, were associated with lipid peroxidation based on multiple linear regression. This study enhances understanding of less well-studied PAC exposure and supports oil exploitation contamination control.
Ping Lu, Qiao-Ying Chen, Meng-Meng Wang et al.· Environmental Research· 0 citations
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have attracted attention because of their persistence and widespread occurrence in indoor environments. This study investigated the occurrence, distribution, and exposure risks of PFAS in indoor dust from different university environments. The associations between indoor dust and hair PFAS concentrations were explored. The average ∑PFAS concentration in dust from unrenovated dormitories (Type Ⅱ, 126.61 ng/g) exceeded that in renovated dormitories (Types Ⅰ and Ⅲ, 63.81 and 54.65 ng/g, respectively). Hair samples from students across all three dormitory types showed PFAS accumulation, with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) as the dominant compound (75.46%, average: 1.15 ng/g). PFAS burdens in hair varied markedly across dormitory types, with average ∑PFAS concentrations of 4.67 ng/g for Type Ⅰ (renovated), 1.00 ng/g for Type Ⅲ (renovated), and 0.49 ng/g for Type Ⅱ (unrenovated). Significant positive correlations between ∑PFAS concentrations in dust and hair (r = 0.77, p < 0.01) suggest that indoor dust may represent a potential contributor to PFAS accumulation in human hair, highlighting the potential of hair as a non-invasive biomonitoring matrix for long-term PFAS exposure. Although the estimated exposure risks were relatively low, the widespread occurrence of PFAS highlights indoor environments as a potential source of chronic human exposure.
Yuan-Hang Zhang, Shunzhe Wei, Wanru Yang et al.· Journal of Hazardous Materia...· 0 citations
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