Existence State of Bromine as an Indicator of the Source of Brominated Flame Retardants in Indoor Dust

Indoor dust is an important medium for human exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). In this study, we used micro X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRFS), digital optical microscopy, and gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry to investigate the existence state of bromine as an indicator of the source of BFRs in indoor dusts and in dusts from the interior of televisions collected in Japan. By means of micro XRFS bromine mapping conducted at a 0.5-s dwell time, we were able to detect bromine levels as low as about 0.1% at each point of about a beam diameter of 50 mu m across. The presence of fragments containing 1.0% or more bromine was confirmed in 27 of the 48 dust samples tested. Using magnified images of the fragments, we classified them roughly into particulates and fibrous substances. We analyzed PBDEs in the fragments containing high concentrations of bromine (>= 0.1%) and confirmed that the fragments contained PBDEs, mainly BDE 209. Furthermore, to detect bromine concentrations <= 0.1% in the dust samples, we analyzed the samples at a dwell time of 100 s to enhance the detection sensitivity of mapping; at this dwell time,we confirmed the presence of bromine in the dust coating. Our results suggest that bromine is transferred from products to dust matrixes not only through miniaturization and subsequent direct migration into dust as plastic and textile fragments but also through other pathways such as vaporization and airborne transfer of microparticulates.