High Production, Low Information: We Need To Know More About Polymeric Flame Retardants

Minet, Laura; Blum, Arlene; Fernandez, Sébastien; Rodgers, Kathryn M.; Singla, Veena; Soehl, Anna; Diamond, Miriam L.

doi:10.1021/acs.est.0c08126

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDD/Fs) can form after combustion of PBDEs . Another possible source could be from polymeric flame retardants . Brominated drugs, pesticides, rodenticides, and their metabolites could also contribute.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterizing the Organohalogen Iceberg: Extractable, Multihalogen Mass Balance Determination in Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Sludge

Spaan

Yuan

Plassmann

et al. 2023

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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The large number and diversity of organohalogen compounds (OHCs) occurring in the environment poses a grand challenge to analytical chemists. Since no single targeted method can identify and quantify all OHCs, the size of the OHC “iceberg” may be underestimated. We sought to address this problem in municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) sludge by quantifying the unidentified fraction of the OHC iceberg using targeted analyses of major OHCs together with measurements of total and extractable (organo)halogen (TX and EOX, respectively; where X = F, Cl, or Br). In addition to extensive method validation via spike/recovery and combustion efficiency experiments, TX and/or EOX were determined in reference materials (BCR-461 and NIST SRMs 2585 and 2781) for the first time. Application of the method to WWTP sludge revealed that chlorinated paraffins (CPs) accounted for most (∼92%) of the EOCl, while brominated flame retardants and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) accounted for only 54% of the EOBr and 2% of the EOF, respectively. Moreover, unidentified EOF in nonpolar CP extracts points to the existence of organofluorine(s) with physical–chemical properties unlike those of target PFAS. This study represents the first multihalogen mass balance in WWTP sludge and offers a novel approach to prioritization of sample extracts for follow-up investigation.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterizing the Organohalogen Iceberg: Extractable, Multihalogen Mass Balance Determination in Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Sludge

Spaan

Yuan

Plassmann

et al. 2023

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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“…56 Another possible source could be from polymeric flame retardants. 57 Brominated drugs, pesticides, rodenticides 58 and their metabolites could also contribute. Bromhexine, for example, is used in over-the-counter cough syrups and pastils, and bromocriptine, is used in the treatment of Parkinson's.…”

Section: Characterization Of Standard Reference Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterizing the Organohalogen Iceberg: Extractable, multi-halogen mass balance determination in municipal wastewater treatment plant sludge

Spaan

Yuan

Plassmann

et al. 2023

Preprint

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The large number and diversity of organohalogen compounds (OHCs) occurring in the environment poses a grand challenge to analytical chemists. Since no single targeted method can identify and quantify all OHCs, the size of the OHC iceberg may be underestimated. We sought to address this problem in municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) sludge by quantifying the unidentified fraction of the OHC iceberg using targeted analyses of major OHCs together with measurements of total- and extractable (organo)halogen (TX and EOX, respectively; where X=F, Cl, or Br). In addition to extensive method validation via spike/recovery and combustion efficiency experiments, TX and/or EOX were determined in reference materials (BCR-461 and NIST SRMs 2585 and 2781) for the first time. Application of the method to WWTP sludge revealed that chlorinated paraffins (CPs) accounted for most (~92%) of the EOCl, while brominated flame retardants and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) accounted for only 54% of the EOBr and 2% of the EOF, respectively. Moreover, unidentified EOF in non-polar CP extracts points to the existence of organofluorine(s) with physical-chemical properties unlike those of target PFAS. This study represents the first multi-halogen mass balance in WWTP sludge, and offers a novel approach to prioritization of sample extracts for follow-up investigation.

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“…Despite being chemicals in Annexe B of the Stockholm convention (discussed below), they continue to appear in consumer products, most recently in cosmetics (Whitehead et al, 2021 ) and remain of global concern. Furthermore, the safety of their replacements is now being challenged (Minet, 2021 ).…”

Section: “Old” and “New” Contaminantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Old” and “new” contaminants and their management: learning from the past, looking to the future

Gibson¹,

Cundy

Kafwamfwa

et al. 2021

Environ Geochem Health

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Within the 50 year lifetime of the Society for Environmental Geochemistry and Health (SEGH), we have seen a number of contaminants transfer from being the wonder chemical of their day through to becoming current contaminants of concern. This is also true for a variety of emerging contaminants such as plastic microbeads, pharmaceutical residues, and fire retardant chemicals, amongst others. This thought piece discusses the risk associated with a range of these emerging contaminants, their global nature, how existing models and frameworks can be applied to deal with their impacts, and research and management gaps and challenges. Graphic Abstract

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High Production, Low Information: We Need To Know More About Polymeric Flame Retardants

Cited by 9 publications

References 2 publications

Characterizing the Organohalogen Iceberg: Extractable, Multihalogen Mass Balance Determination in Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Sludge

Characterizing the Organohalogen Iceberg: Extractable, Multihalogen Mass Balance Determination in Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Sludge

Characterizing the Organohalogen Iceberg: Extractable, multi-halogen mass balance determination in municipal wastewater treatment plant sludge

“Old” and “new” contaminants and their management: learning from the past, looking to the future

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