Different organophosphate flame retardant and metabolite concentrations in urine from male and female university students in Beijing and an assessment of exposure via indoor dust

Abstract

Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) have been found in human samples and associated with adverse health effects. In the present study, OPFR and dialkyl and diaryl phosphate (DAP) concentrations in human urine were determined and differences in the concentrations in urine from males and females were investigated. Urine samples from 22 male and 26 female university students, paired dust samples from the dormitories (13 each for males and females), and 10 dust samples from university teaching buildings were analyzed. The tri‐o‐cresyl phosphate (TOCP), tri‐p‐cresyl phosphate (TPCP), and tris(2‐chloroisopropyl)phosphate (TCIPP) concentrations were significantly higher (p = 0.049, 0.023, and 0.027, respectively) in urine from the female students than in urine from the male students. Similar differences were found between males and females in terms of OPFR exposure and OPFR concentrations in urine for three‐fourths of the OPFRs. Questionnaire answers and calculations indicated that disparities in OPFR concentrations in urine were mainly caused by females spending much more time than males in dormitories. Organophosphate flame retardants may pose degrees of health risk similar to those of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and this must be considered when making decisions about controlling flame retardants. We are not aware of any previous studies that simultaneously monitor OPFRs and DAPs in human urine in China. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:760–768. © 2019 SETAC