Masters Thesis

Method development for the detection of organophosphate flame retardants and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in consumer products and house dust

Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are additive flame retardants frequently found in consumer products and in indoor environments. OPFRs and PBDEs are known to transfer from consumer products, to dust, and ultimately to humans via incidental dust ingestion and inhalation. OPFR metabolites are reported in human urine (1) and PBDE are reported in human serum and breast milk (2). This thesis describes the development and validation of a sonication extraction method for the simultaneous measurement of OPFRs and PBDEs in consumer products and house dust by Gas Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GCMS/ MS). Electron ionization (EI) mass spectra and collision cell energy are evaluated for selection of parent and product MS/MS ions. The resultant MS/MS transitions are shown to demonstrate high selectivity and sensitivity in NIST Standard Reference Material 2585, Organic Contaminants in House Dust (National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD). Sonication extraction efficiency is evaluated for the two groups of compounds in consumer products and dust using carbon-13 PBDE and deuterated OPFR standards. Dust results are evaluated against NIST certified values and reference literature values. Consumer product results are validated by an inter laboratory collaboration with Duke University (Nicholas School of the Environment, Durham, NC).

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