Novel and High Volume Use Flame Retardants in US Couches Reflective of the 2005 PentaBDE Phase Out

Abstract

California’s furniture flammability standard Technical Bulletin 117 (TB 117) is believed to be a major driver of chemical flame retardant (FR) use in residential furniture in the United States. With the phase-out of the polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) FR mixture PentaBDE in 2005, alternative FRs are increasingly being used to meet TB 117; however, it was unclear which chemicals were being used and how frequently. To address this data gap, we collected and analyzed 102 samples of polyurethane foam from residential couches purchased in the United States from 1985 to 2010. Overall, we detected chemical flame retardants in 85% of the couches. In samples purchased prior to 2005 (n = 41) PBDEs associated with the PentaBDE mixture including BDEs 47, 99, and 100 (PentaBDE) were the most common FR detected (39%), followed by tris(1,3-dichloroisopropyl) phosphate (TDCPP; 24%), which is a suspected human carcinogen. In samples purchased in 2005 or later (n = 61) the most common FRs detected were TDCPP (52%) and components associated with the Firemaster550 (FM 550) mixture (18%). Since the 2005 phase-out of PentaBDE, the use of TDCPP increased significantly. In addition, a mixture of nonhalogenated organophosphate FRs that included triphenyl phosphate (TPP), tris(4-butylphenyl) phosphate (TBPP), and a mix of butylphenyl phosphate isomers were observed in 13% of the couch samples purchased in 2005 or later. Overall the prevalence of flame retardants (and PentaBDE) was higher in couches bought in California compared to elsewhere, although the difference was not quite significant (p = 0.054 for PentaBDE). The difference was greater before 2005 than after, suggesting that TB 117 is becoming a de facto standard across the U.S. We determined that the presence of a TB 117 label did predict the presence of a FR; however, lack of a label did not predict the absence of a flame retardant. Following the PentaBDE phase out, we also found an increased number of flame retardants on the market. Given these results, and the potential for human exposure to FRs, health studies should be conducted on the types of FRs identified here.

Concentrations of organophosphate flame retardants in dust from cars, homes, and offices: An international comparison

“…While our UK study found no significant relationships between PFR concentrations in dust from cars, classrooms, homes, and offices and the presence of putative PFR sources in such UK microenvironments [11]; the same study did highlight elevated concentrations of TCIPP in house dust and suggested that this was likely attributable to extensive use of TCIPP in couch foam, as reported in the US [28]. This study explores this further, by comparing concentrations of TCIPP in Australian couch dust and from living rooms in which the couch was located; hypothesising that significantly elevated concentrations of TCIPP in couch compared to floor dust, combined with significant positive correlation between the two groups, would indicate couches to be a significant source.…”

Size-dependent atmospheric deposition and inhalation exposure of particle-bound organophosphate flame retardants

“…The production volume of TCIPP was higher than that of TDCPP in the last few years; the worldwide production and usage volumes of TCIPP and TDCPP were 40,000 and 8,000 tons in 1997, respectively [7], while the use of TDCPP has increased significantly since the phase-out of PentaBDE [33]. Therefore, the present study documented the historical use patterns of TDCPP and TCIPP.…”

Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) in indoor and outdoor air in the Rhine/Main area, Germany: comparison of concentrations and distribution profiles in different microenvironments

“…Similar high proportions of TiBP (18-33 %) and TnBP (14-23 %) relative to ∑OPFRs have also been reported for indoor air in Sweden (Bergh et al 2011) and outdoor air in Norway (Green et al 2008) and the USA (Salamova et al 2014b). According to previous reports, over 98 % of TCPP was used as FR additive in building insulation materials and household products including PUF furniture (EC 2008b;Stapleton et al 2012), indicating that emissions from these materials may significantly contribute to OPFRs in indoor and outdoor air. The consumption of TCPP in the EU was over 40,000 t in 2000 and the production of TCPP over 46,000 t in the EU in 2008 (EC 2008b).…”