Estimated intakes of brominated flame retardants via diet and dust compared to internal concentrations in a Swedish mother-toddler cohort

Tri-decabrominated diphenyl ethers (tri-decaBDEs), isomer-specific hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) and 14 emerging brominated flame retardants (EBFRs) were determined in Swedish market basket samples, two pooled breast milk samples and house dust collected in homes of first-time mothers. Daily dietary and dust intakes were estimated for the mothers and their toddlers and compared to previously reported levels in serum of both the mothers and toddlers and in feces of the toddlers (n = 20). Diet was the main contributor for intake of Sigma pentaBDE and alpha-tetrabromoethylcyclohexane (DBE-DBCH) for both mothers and toddlers. For Sigma octaBDE, Sigma HBCD and pentabromobenzene (PBBz), dietary intake was more important for mothers while house dust ingestion was more important for toddlers. House dust was the main exposure route for Sigma decaBDE, decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), 2-ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (EH-TBB), bis(2-ethylhexyl)tetrabromophthalate (BEH-TEBP), bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy) ethane (BTBPE) and pentabromotoluene (PBT) for both mothers and toddlers. Significant correlations (Spearmans, alpha<0.05) were found between the mothers' BDE serum concentrations and their consumption of meat and fish while no correlations were found between BFR dietary intake and serum or feces concentrations in toddlers. Octa-decaBDE congener concentrations in serum and feces of toddlers were significantly correlated to those in house dust. BDE-207 and -208 concentrations in serum of mothers were significantly correlated with the nonaBDEs in house dust. The correlations between house dust and internal concentrations and comparison of the house dust and dietary contributions to the estimated daily intakes suggest that dust exposure plays a larger role for the octa-decaBDE body burden in toddlers than in their mothers. (C) 2015 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.