Amplification effect of haze on human exposure to halogenated flame retardants in atmospheric particulate matter and the corresponding mechanism.

Abstract

The health impact of haze is of great concern; however, few air quality studies have investigated trace pollutant contamination in the air. Size-segregated atmospheric particles (nine size fractions derived from PM10) were collected in dwelling (indoor) and traffic (outdoor) environments in Xinxiang, China, during light pollution conditions (air quality index (AQI), 60-90) and heavy pollution conditions (AQI, 350-550), and they were analysed for halogenated flame retardants (HFRs), including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) and Dechlorane Plus (DP) isomers. HFR occurrence levels generally decreased in the order of PBDEs > NBFRs > DPs. The total mean abundance ratios of heavy pollution/light pollution were 4.0, 2.9, 4.4 and 3.6 for PBDEs, NBFRs, DPs and HFRs, respectively. Meteorological conditions played distinctive roles in the HFR distribution in the air. Apparent differences were found for the particle size distribution of HFRs under light and heavy pollution conditions. In general, for adults, the estimated hazard quotient (HQ) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCRBDE-209) values were approximately 1.7 × 10-2 and 9.3 × 10-9 in heavy pollution conditions, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in light pollution conditions (1.8 × 10-3 and 2.1 × 10-9, respectively).