Identification of Three Novel Chloroalkyl Organophosphate Triesters in House Dust Using Halogenation-Guided Nontarget Screening Combined with Suspect Screening

Several haloalkyl organophosphate triester (OPTE) flame retardants have been restricted in some countries due to their potential health risks, but the usage of alternative haloalkyl OPTEs is of concern. In this study, we comprehensively screened for haloalkyl OPTEs in house dust using high-resolution mass spectrometry. Through halogenation-guided nontarget screening, a rare chloroalkyl OPTE, diethylene glycol bis(bis (2-chloroisopropyl)phosphate) (DEGBBCPP), was unequivocally identified (Level 1) in house dust of Beijing, North China. In addition, by screening a suspect list of 61 haloalkyl OPTEs from the EPA's CompTox Chemicals Dashboard, we tentatively identified diethylene glycol bis(bis(2-chloroethyl)phosphate) (DEGBBCEP) and ethylene bis[bis(2-chloroethyl)phosphate] (EBBCEP) (Level 2). DEGBBCPP was detected in all 45 house dust samples, and the median concentration was 98.4 ng/g (13.6-6217 ng/g), that is, approximately one-half that of tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate, a traditional high-production chloroalkyl OPTE. The detection frequencies of DEGBBCEP and EBBCEP were 96% and 98%, respectively, but at relatively low median concentrations of 10.6 ng/g (from not detected to 152 ng/g) and 3.79 ng/g (from not detected to 130 ng/g), respectively. In standard house dust SRM2585, DEGBBCEP and EBBCEP were detected at 160 +/- 15.7 and 1897 +/- 38.8 ng/g, respectively, but DEGBBCPP was not detected. Future studies should evaluate the potential adverse health effects of these emerging flame retardants.

Automated summary

This study identified a rare chloroalkyl OPTE, DEGBBCPP, as well as DEGBBCEP and EBBCEP in house dust samples. DEGBBCPP had a relatively high detection rate and concentration, indicating a need for further research on its potential health effects.