Decabromodiphenyl ether in indoor dust from different microenvironments in a university in the Philippines

This study was conducted to develop a method for the determination of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) in indoor dust from different microenvironments in a university in the Philippines. BDE-209 was extracted from dust samples by ultrasonication and determined by HPLC–UV. The determination was performed using external calibration and internal standard calibration. Internal standard calibration was shown to be more precise and sensitive than external calibration. The linearity for the concentration range of 0–300 μg L−1 BDE-209 was good (R2 = 0.993). The % absolute recovery and the % RSD for n = 8 spiked dust analysis based on a 0.2 g dust sample was 57% and 19%, respectively. The method detection limit was 285 ng g−1. All dust samples showed detectable levels of BDE-209 with some at levels below the quantification limits. The concentrations of BDE-209 in the quantified samples are within the range of 1103–4117 ng g−1 with an average concentration of 2172 ng g−1. The levels of BDE-209 found in the dust samples are comparable to those reported in house and workplace dusts from other Asian countries. Although not conclusive, it has been shown empirically that BDE-209 concentrations are higher in sampling sites containing more possible BDE-209 sources like electrical and electronic equipment.

► A method was developed to analyze BDE-209 in indoor dust from microenvironments in a university in the Philippines.
► The method used ultrasonication extraction, SPE clean-up, and HPLC–UV determination.
► BDE-209 was detected in all samples analyzed with some samples in levels below the quantification limits.
► BDE-209 concentration is high in sites containing high number of electrical and electronic equipment.