Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in indoor dust and human hair

In the present study, settled workplace dust (n = 55) from commercial offices, secondary schools, shopping malls, hospitals, electronic factories and manufacturing plants in Hong Kong and settled home dust (n = 23) from Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, around the Pearl River Delta were collected. Chemical analyses showed that the total PBDEs in workplace dust ranged from 397 to 40,236 ng g(-1), with the dust samples from electronic factories having the highest levels (2122-40,236 ng g(-1)), and dust from homes ranging from 685 to 18,385 ng g(-1). The most abundant BDE congeners found were BDE-209 in both workplace dust and home dust, followed by BDE-99 and BDE-47. No significant correlations were observed between total PBDE concentrations in home dust and the age or the house (p > 0.05), concentrations of BDE-99 + BDE-47 and the number of furniture containing foam (p > 0.05), and concentrations of BDE-209 and the number of electronic appliances (p > 0.05). BDE-47, -99, -100 and 183 were found in most of the hair. samples collected from occupants of. these homes with BDE-47 being the dominant congener (0.86-5.24 ng g(-1)). The BDE-183 concentration in home dust was significantly correlated with that in human hair (r = 0.55, p < 0.05, n = 18). Risk assessment indicated that daily intake of PBDEs for children via non-dietary ingestion of dust (101-404 ng day(-1)) was higher than that via food consumption (77-190 ng day(-1)). (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.