Occurrence, distribution, and potential exposure risk of organophosphate flame retardants in house dust in South Korea

Abstract Concentrations of organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs), which are used in various plastic products, were analyzed in house dust samples collected from three Korean cities (Suwon, n = 23; Jeonju, n = 20; Kunsan, n = 42). OPFRs, including tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), tris (2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCPP), and tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP), were detected in 95%–100% of the samples analyzed, suggesting the widespread use of these compounds in Korea. The levels of TCEP, TCPP, and TDCPP in Suwon, Jeonju, and Kunsan ranged from the limit of quantitation to 46,000, 28,000, and 2400 ng/g, respectively. The concentrations of all OPFRs were significantly higher in house dust samples from Suwon than from Jeonju and Kunsan; this is likely due to the increased use of these compounds in Suwon, which may be associated with the number, volume, and variety of household products in homes. In Korean homes, the estimated daily intake (EDI) of OPFRs through house dust ingestion was lower than the guideline values; however, the EDI of OPFRs for toddlers was 30-fold greater than for adults, suggesting a limited risk to human health. This is the first comprehensive study of the occurrence and distribution of OPFRs in house dust in Korea.