Occurrence and Distribution of Organophosphate Flame Retardants/Plasticizers in Surface Waters, Tap Water, and Rainwater: Implications for Human Exposure

Abstract

The occurrence and profiles of 14 triester organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) and plasticizers were investigated in surface water, tap water, rainwater, and seawater collected from New York State. In total, 150 samples collected from rivers ( n = 35), lakes ( n = 39), tap water ( n = 58), precipitation/rainwater ( n = 15), and seawater ( n = 3) were analyzed for 14 organophosphate esters (OPEs). An additional nine Hudson River water samples were collected periodically to delineate seasonal trends in OPE levels. The total concentrations of OPEs were found at part-per-trillion ranges, with average concentrations that ranged from 0.01 ng/L for tripropyl phosphate (TPP) in river water to 689 ng/L for tris(2-butoxyethyl)phosphate (TBOEP) in lake water. Tris(1-chloro-2-propyl)phosphate (TCIPP) was the most abundant compound among the investigated OPEs in all types of water. The concentrations of OPEs in river-, lake-, and rainwater were similar but >3 times higher than those found in tap water. Chlorinated alkyl OPFRs accounted for a major proportion of total concentrations. TCIPP, TBOEP, and triethyl phosphate (TEP) were found in >90% of the samples analyzed. Wet deposition fluxes for 14 OPFRs were estimated, on the basis of the concentrations measured in rainwater in Albany, New York, and the values were between 440 and 5250 ng/m. Among several surface water bodies analyzed, samples from the Hudson River and Onondaga Lake contained elevated concentrations of OPEs. Estimated daily intake of OPEs via the ingestion of drinking water was up to 9.65 ng/kg body weight/day.

Mass defect filtering for suspect screening of halogenated environmental chemicals: A case study of chlorinated organophosphate flame retardants

“…Fu et al reported the estimated half‐lives for Cl‐PFRs to be higher than those for non‐chlorinated ones using EPI Suite version 4.11 . Since the uptake of PFRs in humans occurs by dermal contact following ingestion as the primary route of exposure, it is imperative to understand the fate and toxicity of OP triesters in environmental media . In addition, impurities resembling compounds of interest are common in the form of intermediates from synthesis procedures, side products, and/or degradation products.…”

“…59 Since the uptake of PFRs in humans occurs by dermal contact following ingestion as the primary route of exposure, [32][33][34] it is imperative to understand the fate and toxicity of OP triesters in environmental media. 60,61 In addition, impurities resembling compounds of interest are common in the form of intermediates from synthesis procedures, side products, and/or degradation products. Such occurrences and phenomena greatly complicate monitoring the various forms and transformations of PFRs in the environment and their subsequently becoming potential sources of human exposure.…”

Hydrophilic trace organic contaminants in urban stormwater: occurrence, toxicological relevance, and the need to enhance green stormwater infrastructure

“…64,65 In Germany and the US, organophosphorus flame retardants (OPs) have been detected in rain and snow samples with trisIJ2-chloro-1-methylethyl) phosphate (TCPP) being the most frequently detected species with concentrations up to 2659 ng L −1 . 56,66,67 Concentrations of OPs were significantly higher in urban than in rural precipitation indicating urban emissions to the atmosphere. 56 Gasperi et al 26 determined organic contaminants in total atmospheric fallout that was collected on rooftops in three catchments in France.…”

Thyroid disruption properties of three indoor dust chemicals tested in Silurana tropicalis tadpoles

“…The background concentration of TDCiPP in the control group (approximately 25% to that of the lowest concentration group) were not affecting the results as there were increased ECH in all the TDCiPP exposure groups (Table ). These chemicals (organophosphate flame retardants) are common in house dust, have also been detected in tap water (Kim & Kannan, ) and can easily contaminant laboratory processes. The present study thus demonstrates thyroid histopathological effects of exposure to TDCiPP.…”