Restrictions on the use of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have resulted in
the increased use of alternate flame retardant chemicals to meet flammability standards.
However, it has been difficult to determine which chemical formulations are currently
being used in high volumes to meet flammability standards since the use of flame retardant
formulations in consumer products is not transparent (i.e., not provided to customers).
To investigate chemicals being used as replacements for PentaBDE in polyurethane foam,
we analyzed foam samples from 26 different pieces of furniture purchased in the United
States primarily between 2003 and 2009. Samples included foam from couches, chairs,
mattress pads, pillows, and, in one case, foam from a sound-proofing system of a laboratory-grade
dust sieve, and were analyzed using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Fifteen
of the foam samples contained the flame retardanttris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate
(TDCPP; 1-5% by weight), four samples contained tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate
(TCPP; 0.5 -22% by weight), one sample contained brominated chemicals found in a new
flame retardant mixture called Firemaster 550 (4.2% by weight), and one foam sample
collected from a futon likely purchased prior to 2004 contained PentaBDE (0.5% by
weight). Due to the high frequency of detection of the chlorinated phosphate compounds
in furniture foam,we analyzed extracts from 50 house dust samples collected between
2002 and 2007 in the Boston, MA area for TDCPP, TCPP, and another high volume use
organophosphate-based flame retardant used in foam, triphenylphosphate (TPP). Detection
frequencies for TDCPP and TPP in the dust samples were > 96% and were log normally
distributed, similar to observations for PBDEs. TCPP was positively detected in dust
in only 24% of the samples, but detection was significantly limited by a coelution
problem. The geometric mean concentrations for TCPP, TDCPP, and TPP in house dust
were 570, 1890, and 7360 ng/g, respectively, and maximum values detected in dust were
5490, 56,080 and 1,798,000 ng/g, respectively. These data suggest that levels of these
organophosphate flame retardants are comparable, or in some cases greater than, levels
of PBDEs in house dust. The high prevalence of these chemicals in foam and the high
concentrations measured in dust (as high as 1.8 mg/g) warrant further studies to evaluate
potential health effects from dust exposure, particularly for children.