Exposure and risk assessment of organophosphate flame retardants in Egyptian, Bangladeshi, Thai, Indonesian and South Korean children

Abstract

Children are considered a vulnerable subpopulation for exposure to emerging contaminants such as organophosphate flame retardants (PFRs). However, in some countries, only limited data on PFR exposure in children are available. Therefore, this study investigated exposure to 8 PFRs by analysis of urinary levels of 13 PFR metabolites in children (n = 502, 6-14 years) from specific regions in Egypt, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, and South Korea. Overall, more than half of the children showed exposure to triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP), tris (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCIPP), and 2-ethylhexyldiphenyl phosphate (EHDPHP), with South Korean children showing the highest urinary levels for diphenyl phosphate (DPHP, 0.78 ng/mL), bis (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BDCIPP, 0.27 ng/mL), and 1-hydroxy-2-propyl bis (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BCIPHIPP, 0.74 ng/mL). Children in Bangladesh showed the lowest detection frequencies and urinary metabolite levels for DPHP (0.27 ng/mL), 2-ethylhexyl phenyl phosphate (EHPHP, < LOQ), and 2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl diphenyl phosphate (5-HO-EHDPHP, < LOQ). Exposure patterns differed significantly between countries. Differences in exposure patterns might result from differences in lifestyle habits such as consumption of canned food, canned beverages, and microwaved food, and housing characteristics. In addition, country-specific flame-retardant regulations might also explain differences between countries. Risk assessment showed only one child with a risk characterization ratio and hazard index > 1, indicating that the included population was not at acute risk for adverse effects due to exposure to PFRs.