STUDY ON CONTAMINATION STATUS AND EXPOSURE RISK OF BROMINATED FLAME RETARDANTS (PBDE, DPDPE) IN SETTLED DUST SAMPLES COLLECTED FROM SOME AREAS IN NORTHERN VIETNAM

Abstract

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) are typical brominated flame retardants (BFRs). Information about the occurrence of these substances in Vietnamese environment is still limited. In this study, concentrations of PBDEs and DBDPE were determined in dust samples collected from some areas in northern Vietnam by using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method. Levels of PBDEs and DBDPE ranged from 20.5 to 464 (median 126) ng/g and from 1.85 to 216 (median 26.3) ng/g, respectively. Levels of PBDEs decreased in the order: end-of-life vehicle (ELV) processing workshops (median 345; range 252–464 ng/g) > urban houses (111; 72.1–130 ng/g) > rural houses (61.6; 20.5–150 ng/g). Meanwhile, levels of DBDPE decreased in the order: urban houses (54.2; 19.5–147 ng/g) > rural houses (26.3; 11.0–217 ng/g) > ELV workshops (7.18; 1.85–28.4 ng/g). Daily intake doses of BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-153, BDE-209, and DBDPE were markedly lower than respective reference doses, suggesting acceptable levels of risk.