Tetrabromobisphenol A and hexabromocyclododecanes from interior and surface dust of personal computers: implications for sources and human exposure.

Abstract

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and hexabromocyclododecane isomers (HBCDs) are widely detected in indoor environments, but the research on the accumulation, contamination, and human exposure of TBBPA and HBCDs in electronic products dust is still limited. It is unclear whether electronic products might pose human health risk via dust ingestion and dermal absorption. In this study, the levels and distributions of TBBPA and HBCDs were investigated in the personal computer (PC) interior dust and PC surface (upper and bottom) wipes. The median concentrations of TBBPA in PC interior dust, upper, and bottom surface wipes were 168.1ng/g, 13.2ng/m2, and 15.2ng/m2, respectively. These levels were generally higher than those of HBCDs, which were 95.2ng/g, 11.7ng/m2, and 12.3ng/m2, respectively. No significant correlations were found among the PC upper and bottom surface wipes, and interior dust, indicating different sources of TBBPA and HBCDs in PC interior and surface dust. The TBBPA and HBCDs in the PC interior dust were mainly released from inner PC materials, while the sources of target compounds on the surface wipes were likely from external environments. The exposure values of two occupational populations (including PC owners and PC repair workers) to TBBPA and HBCDs were measured by PC interior dust and upper surface wipes. The results imply dust ingestion (including hand-to-mouth uptake) is the main contributor of the exposure route to TBBPA and HBCDs for both PC owners and repair workers. Compared to PC owners, PC repair workers showed the greater risk in exposure assessment, which should be paid more attention.