Recent advances in the analysis of TBBPA/TBBPS, TBBPA/TBBPS derivatives and their transformation products

• This study provides strategies for identifying unknown TBBPA derivatives in the environment or in laboratory-exposure conditions.
• Progress and trends on the analysis of TBBPA/S and their derivatives.
• Extraction and purification strategies for target TBBPA/S and derivatives.
• Elucidation of pathways responsible for the transformation of TBBPA/S derivatives.

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is the most widely used brominated flame retardant. TBBPA and its alternative, tetrabromobisphenol S (TBBPS), are the reactive chemicals used to produce TBBPA/S derivatives. The manufacturing and application of TBBPA/S derivatives may result in their accumulation in environmental compartments and may cause risks to environmental safety and human health. To investigate the occurrence and transformation products of TBBPA/S and TBBPA/S derivatives, it is imperative to develop effective sample preparation and sensitive analytical methods for various environmental matrices. In this paper, we summarize the techniques for analysis of TBBPA/S and their derivatives. We also critically review methodologies for the identification of unknown metabolites transformed from these chemicals. In the perspective section, we discuss trends in analytical strategies for studying emerging TBBPA/S derivatives.