Pollution status, particle-size distribution and health impacts (people at different ages) of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in bedrooms

Abstract

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widely found in the environment owing to the widespread use of brominated flame retardants. In recent years, polybrominated diphenyl ethers have attracted increasing attention because of their harmful effects on human health, especially in children, and have been recognized as significant indoor environmental pollutants. In this study, PBDEs were detected in 80 samples of air, dust, and particulate matter from bedrooms in Hangzhou, indicating that PBDE pollutions in bedrooms occur widely. The median concentration of ∑8PBDEs in dust was 8.54 ng/g, whereas in air and particulate matter was 13.60 pg/m3 and 23.94 pg/m3, respectively. BDE-209 was the main congeners in particles and dust. The mass distribution of atmospheric particles in bedrooms showed a bimodal distribution, mainly in the segments of < 1.1 and 3.3 − 4.7 µm. Through the analysis of typical bedroom materials, the specific PBDEs concentration order was as follows: curtain < wallpaper < mattress < socket panel, with median concentrations of 21.90 µg/g, 45.74 µg/g, 46.31 µg/g and 74.85 µg/g, respectively. The possible sources of PBDEs in residential air, dust, particulate matter was mattress, curtains and mattresses, and mattress and curtains, respectively. Infants have the highest daily exposure dose (DED) for ∑5PBDEs in the air and particulate matter phases, while toddles have the highest DED in dust. The HQ（Hazard Quotient）of infants, toddlers, children, teenagers, and adults were 8.58E-05, 1.06E-04, 4.17E-05, 2.53E-05 and 1.09E-05, respectively, indicating that pollution in bedrooms will not negatively impact human health. However, related studies have shown that children are more likely to be exposed to PBDEs than adults. Therefore, for infants and young children with weaker resistance and long-term family environments, PBDEs pollution may harm their health and growth.