Contamination Characterization and Human Exposure Levels to Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Indoor and Outdoor Air in Industrial Park of Suzhou City

Abstract

Eight polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners in indoor and outdoor air particles were collected using higher-volume active sampling techniques from different functional areas, including an industrial workplace, office, domestic area, and scenic area in an industrial zone, in Suzhou city, and the samples were analyzed by GC-MS. The total concentration of PBDEs ranged from 9.22-64.15 pg·m-3 (average 20.93 pg·m-3), and 1.06-8.44 pg·m-3(average 5.11 pg·m-3)in indoor and outdoor air, respectively. The results showed that the concentrations of PBDEs in indoor PM10 was significantly higher than that in the outdoor PM10. The average concentrations of PBDEs in the air of the different sampling areas were in the order:industrial workplace<office<dwelling indoor<outdoor air. Compared with the concentrations of PBDEs in the indoor and outdoor particulate matters from other regions, the concentrations of PBDEs in the indoor and outdoor atmospheric particles from Suzhou were at lower levels. BDE-209 was the most abundant (average 63% of the total PBDEs) in indoor and outdoor air, followed by BDE-99 and BDE-47.The estimated daily intake of PBDEs via inhalation was 3.75, 2.78, and 2.60 pg·(kg·d)-1 by the workers in the workplace, workers in office, and toddlers, respectively. Results showed that inhalation exposure to PBDEs did not cause potential health risks in the local residents of Suzhou.