Organophosphate Flame Retardants in Dust Collected from United States Fire Stations

Details

• Personal Author:
  Brown FR ; Dhaliwal J ; Gill R ; Hammond SK ; Patton S ; Petreas M ; Shen B ; Whitehead TP
• Description:
  Firefighters are exposed to chemicals during fire events and we previously demonstrated that fire station dust has high levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). In conducting the Fire Station Dust Study, we sought to further characterize the chemicals to which firefighters could be exposed - measuring the emerging class of phosphorous-containing flame retardants (PFRs) in fire stations, for the first time, as well as PBDEs. Dust samples from 26 fire stations in five states were collected from vacuum-cleaner bags and analyzed for PFRs and PBDEs. PFR concentrations were found to be on the same order of magnitude as PBDE concentrations (maximum PFR: 218,000ng/g; maximum PBDE: 351,000ng/g). Median concentrations of tri-n-butyl phosphate (TNBP), tris (2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP), and tris(1,3-dichloroisopropyl)phosphate (TDCIPP) in dust from fire stations were higher than those previously reported in homes and other occupational settings around the world. Total PFR levels did not vary significantly among states. Levels of TDCIPP were higher in stations where vacuum cleaners were used to clean surfaces other than the floor. PBDE levels were comparable to those found in our previous study of 20 California fire stations and much higher than levels in California residences. PFR and PBDE levels in fire station dust are higher than in other occupational and residential settings, underscoring the need to identify and control sources of this contamination. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Dust Environmental Exposure Environmental Pollution Firefighters Fires Hazardous Substances Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Phosphoric Acids Safety Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Chemical Hazards Chemicals Dust Analysis Dust Exposure Dust Sampling Environmental Contamination Environmental Exposure Exposure Assessment Exposure Levels Fire Fighters Fire Fighting Equipment Fire Retardants Flame Retardants Health Hazards Occupational Exposure Organophosphorus Compounds Phosphates Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers Tributyl Phosphate Work Environment

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• ISSN:
  0160-4120
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  41-48
• Volume:
  112
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20052892
• Citation:
  Environ Int 2018 Mar; 112:41-48
• Contact Point Address:
  Beverly Shen, School of Public Health, University of California, 50 University Hall, Berkeley, CA, USA
• Email:
  beverlyshen@berkeley.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Phosphate (CAS RN 14265-44-2) ; Tributyl phosphate (CAS RN 126-73-8) ; Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (CAS RN 13674-87-8) ; Tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (CAS RN 13674-84-5)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• Performing Organization:
  University of California, Berkeley
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Environmental International
• End Date:
  20250630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e795a9e01798ebe9d2a424f1a471e60b9f1c1bfed812bb94f6c6c466d46d67f836e77268231b4b4e68b180282ecfc404553710f526263831cab1ccea6c865668
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/215798/cdc_215798_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 633.00 KB ]