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Title: Concentrations of organophosphate flame retardants and plasticizers in urine from young children in Queensland, Australia and associations with environmental and behavioural factors

Journal Article · · Environmental Research
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [3];  [4];  [5]; ;  [1];  [4];  [1]
  1. QAEHS, Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Science, The University of Queensland, 4108 Brisbane (Australia)
  2. School of Medicine, The University of Queensland (Australia)
  3. International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology, 4000 Brisbane (Australia)
  4. Children's Health and Environment Program, Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland (Australia)
  5. Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University Brisbane (Australia)

Highlights: • Eight OPFRs and eleven metabolites were measured in the urine of Australian kids. • Age was positively associated with BBOEP and negatively associated with BCIPP. • Mouthing activities were associated with higher concentrations of TBOEP, and TPHP. • Children living with window AC units had higher concentrations of BCIPHIPP and DBP. In recent years, the production and usage volumes of organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) has increased substantially. Certain OPFRs are suspected reproductive toxins, carcinogenic, and neurotoxic. Insufficient information is available on human exposure pathways to these chemicals, particularly in Australia. We aim to assess the association between OPFR concentrations in the urine of children to environmental and behavioural risk factors. Concentrations of eight OPFRs and eleven metabolites were measured in the urine of 51 children, aged 3–29 months, in Southeast Queensland, Australia and compared to their behavioural and environmental risk factor data obtained by an online questionnaire. Of the 11 OPFR metabolites analysed, 55% were frequently detected in the majority (> 80%) of samples. The most frequently detected metabolite was bis(1,3-dichloroisopropyl) phosphate (BDCIPP) (detected in 100% of samples), followed by 1-hydroxy-2-propyl bis(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BCIPHIPP) (96%), diphenyl phosphate (DPHP) (94%) and bis(1-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (BCIPP) (86%). In multivariable modelling, age was positively associated with concentrations of bis(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (BBOEP) and negatively associated with concentrations of BCIPP and BCIPHIPP. Other non-age related factors, including vacuuming frequency, hand-washing frequency and presence and number of some electrical appliances in the home were also associated with concentrations of OPFR metabolites.

OSTI ID:
23105784
Journal Information:
Environmental Research, Vol. 164; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0013-9351
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English