Contemporary Flame Retardants Exposure in the United States

Presenter: Maria del Pilar Ospina, PhD

National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA

Abstract:

The use of organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) including tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate, triphenyl phosphate, tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate, and tris-2-chloroethyl phosphate, in consumer products is on the rise because of the recent phase out of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants. Some of these chemicals are also used as plasticizers or lubricants in many consumer products. Understanding exposure to these contemporary flame retardants is of public health interest as components of these formulations are frequently detected in many products common to human environments.

This seminar will present the findings of nine flame retardant biomarkers: diphenyl phosphate (DPhP), bis(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BDCPP), bis-(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BCPP), bis-2-chloroethyl phosphate (BCEtP), di-n-butyl phosphate (DBuP), di-p-cresylphosphate, di-o-cresylphosphate, dibenzyl phosphate, and 2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoic acid in a representative sample of the U.S. general population 6 years and older from the 2013–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.