Airborne polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PBDD/Fs), and dechlorane plus (DP) in concentrated vehicle parking areas

Abstract

This study investigated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PBDD/Fs), and dechlorane plus (DP) in air around three concentrated vehicle parking areas (underground, indoor, and outdoor) in a metropolitan of South China. The parking areas showed higher concentrations of PBDEs, PBDD/Fs, and DP than their adjacent urban area or distinct congener/isomer profiles, which indicate their local emission sources. The highest PBDE and DP concentrations were found in the outdoor parking lot, which might be related to the heating effect of direct sunlight exposure. Multi-linear regression analysis results suggest that deca-BDEs without noticeable transformation contributed most to airborne PBDEs in all studied areas, followed by penta-BDEs. The statistically lower anti-DP fractions in the urban area than that of commercial product signified its degradation/transformation during transportation. Neither PBDEs nor vehicle exhaust contributed much to airborne PBDD/Fs in the parking areas. There were 68.1-100 % of PBDEs, PBDD/Fs, and DP associated with particles. Logarithms of gas-particle distribution coefficients (K p s) of PBDEs were significantly linear-correlated with those of their sub-cooled vapor pressures (p L s) and octanol-air partition coefficients (K OA s) in all studied areas. The daily inhalation doses of PBDEs, DP, and PBDD/Fs were individually estimated as 89.7-10,741, 2.05-39.4, and 0.12-4.17 pg kg −1 day −1 for employees in the parking areas via Monte Carlo simulation.

Pollution Characteristics and Diurnal Variations in Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Indoor and Outdoor Air from Vehicle Dismantler Factories in Southern Taiwan

“…Both indoor and outdoor levels of PBDEs in the present study were higher than those in Taiwanese home environments (Σ 14 PBDEs: 81.1 and 13.1 pg m -3 in indoor and outdoor air, respectively) (Shy et al, 2015) and ambient air in the rural area of Pingtung (Σ 14 PBDEs: 15.9 pg m -3 ) (Chao et al, 2014c). As compared with other studies published from 2004 to 2016 and shown in Table 2, the mean level of PBDEs in the indoor air in the present study was lower than those in the vehicle parking areas in southern China (Li et al, 2016) and e-waste storage facilities in Thailand (Muenhor et al, 2010), but levels were still higher than those in the domestic environment (Wilford et al, 2004;Takigami et al, 2009;Shy et al, 2015;Ding et al, 2016). Our value in the outdoor air was only lower than those collected from vehicle parking areas (Li et al, 2016), and in the e-waste storage facilities (Muenhor et al, 2010), and a PRD community (Ding et al, 2016).…”

“…As compared with other studies published from 2004 to 2016 and shown in Table 2, the mean level of PBDEs in the indoor air in the present study was lower than those in the vehicle parking areas in southern China (Li et al, 2016) and e-waste storage facilities in Thailand (Muenhor et al, 2010), but levels were still higher than those in the domestic environment (Wilford et al, 2004;Takigami et al, 2009;Shy et al, 2015;Ding et al, 2016). Our value in the outdoor air was only lower than those collected from vehicle parking areas (Li et al, 2016), and in the e-waste storage facilities (Muenhor et al, 2010), and a PRD community (Ding et al, 2016). In comparison with various indoor environments Thuresson et al, 2012;Newton et al, 2015;Shy et al, 2015), indoor air levels of PBDEs in the present study were lower than those in offices, day care centers, and cars, but higher than those in homes and apartments.…”

Legacy and emerging flame retardants (FRs) in the urban atmosphere of Pakistan: Diurnal variations, gas-particle partitioning and human health exposure

“…DP is a highly chlorinated flame retardant which is used in coating wires/cables, plastic roofing and textiles [47][48][49]. It is released into the environment via e-waste recycling practices, during manufacturing as well as from use of products containing DP [50,51].…”

Assessing exposure of young Australian children to toxicants in the home environment using a web-based questionnaire

“…BDE-209 concentrations were significantly lower in children whose mother's reported regularly using a sunshade beneath the front windscreen to keep the car cooler when the weather is hot, which is a common practice in Australia. PBDE concentrations in cars have previously been found to be associated with temperature and outdoor parking, which suggests that sunshade use may reduce airborne or dust BDE-209 concentrations in cars (369,370). Previous combined biomonitoringenvironmental monitoring studies have shown PBDE concentrations in dust from cars correlates with concentrations of PBDEs in their owner's serum (221,371).…”