Organophosphate and novel brominated flame retardants exposure in childbearing women via house dust

Abstract

PDS 62: Chemicals and metals: exposure and biomarkers, Johan Friso Foyer, Floor 1, August 28, 2019, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Background: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, suspected endocrine disruptors, have been replaced by organophosphate (OPFR) and novel brominated flame retardants (NBFR). OPFRs and NBFRs readily migrate from consumer products, including furniture and electronics, into dust where humans are exposed via accidental ingestion and inhalation. Toxicological studies have found potential carcinogenicity, endocrine disruption, and neurobehavioral alterations from these alternative flame retardants. However, no comprehensive assessments of exposure to OPFRs and NBFRs have been completed in a longitudinal cohort. Methods: We quantified concentrations of OPFRs and NBFRs in house dust samples (n=317) collected from pregnant women (~20 weeks) enrolled in the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study in Cincinnati, Ohio (2003-2006). We used multiple regression modeling to identify personal characteristics that were associated with concentrations of individual chemicals and summary concentrations for each class. Finally, we estimated personal daily dust exposure for each participant based on dust concentration and cross-sectional weight data. Results: Tris(1-chloro-2-propyl)phosphate (TCIPP) (median: 1860 ng/g, range: 70.1-166,000 ng/g), tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate (TDCIPP) (median: 1860 ng/g, range: 55.2-228,000 ng/g), triphenyl phosphate (TPHP) (median: 995 ng/g, range: 34.1-62,100 ng/g), 2-ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (EH-TBB) (median: 45.8 ng/g, range: 2.82-7,800 ng/g), and bis(2-ethylhexyl)tetrabromophthalate (BEH-TEBP) (median: 115 ng/g, range 2.17-13,600 ng/g) were all detected in over 90% of dust samples; tris(2-chloroethyl)phosphate (TCEP) (median: 759.4 ng/g, range: 56.8-160,000 ng/g) was detected in 80.1% of samples. Concentrations of individual chemicals, ∑OPFRs, and ∑NBFRs were associated with the number of people living in the home, race, education, floor type, and visible cleanliness of the room. Daily exposure to ∑OPFRs from dust was 2.1 ng/kg/day based on average dust ingestion and 6.3 ng/kg/day among women in the 95th percentile of dust ingestion. Conclusions: This study shows that OPFRs and NBFRs are ubiquitous in childbearing women’s house dust, and justifies more research on the consequences of exposure in these concentration ranges.