engleski

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in Croatian house dust and assessment of human exposure

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are organic compounds used as flame retardants in a wide variety of consumer and industrial products from which they are released into surrounding environments through abrasion, volatilization, and leaching. Growing evidence on their adverse effects in ecosystems and human health have led to a ban on their production and use globally. These chemicals can cause thyroid disorders, neurobehavioral and developmental disorders. PBDEs accumulate in indoor dust, and dust ingestion is one of the main human exposure pathways to these chemicals. Studies have shown that toddlers are the most exposed population group due to their frequent hand-to-mouth activity and extensive contact with dusty surfaces. At this important developmental stage they also have reduced metabolic capacity for contaminants elimination and are therefore especially vulnerable. Seven PBDE congeners (BDE-28, -47, -99, -100, 153, -154, and -183) were analysed in five house dusts collected in Zagreb. PBDEs were extracted using microwave-assisted extraction, and purified extracts were analysed by gas chromatography with electron capture detectors. Mass fractions obtained for positive samples were used to calculate estimated daily intakes (EDI) for toddlers at central and worst case scenarios. EDI for ΣPBDEs ranged from 0.003 to 55.04 and from 0.01 to 110.07 ng kg-1 bw day-1 at central and worst case scenarios. For the most contaminated dust sample, the EDI for BDE-99 (accounting for 63 % of ΣPBDEs) at worst case scenario was 68.99 ng kg-1 bw day-1 which is very close to the prescribed reference dose (RfD) value of 100 ng kg-1 bw day-1.

brominated flame retardants ; children exposure ; congeners ; daily intake ; dust ingestion

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