Determination of three organophosphate ester flame retardants in baby carriages by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry combined with solid phase extraction

Abstract

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are high-production-volume chemicals used as flame retardants. Some western countries (e. g. America and European Union) have imposed restrictions on OPEs in baby products due to their similar persistent-organic-pollutants (POPs) properties. So far, there is no domestic or foreign standard for OPEs flame retardants in baby carriages. Ultrasonic extraction was used to extract three OPEs from baby carriages, and the extracts were purified by a florisil solid phase extraction (SPE) column, and finally detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The spiked recoveries of the three OPEs were in the range of 89.5% to 107.3%. The limits of detection (3S/N) were 0.01 mg/kg, and the limits of quantification (10S/N) were 0.1 mg/kg. This method could eliminate matrix effects and give accurate qualitative analytical results for the three OPE flame retardants in baby carriages. Thirty-seven samples were analyzed and the tris (2-chloro-1-methylethyl) phosphate (TCPP) detection rate was up to 81.1% with the mass concentration range of 1.0-15 312.8 mg/kg, and 32.4% of the samples exceeded the European Union directive (2014/79/EU) for TCPP (> 5 mg/kg), as well as tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) and tris [2-chloro-1-(chloromethyl) ethyl] phosphate(TDCP) in two samples, which were in the range of 6.2-44.1 mg/kg. Thus, relatively high OPEs flame retardants risk was presented in baby carriages.