Levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in indoor dust and human exposure estimates from Makurdi, Nigeria

• Concentrations of PBDEs in the indoor microenvironments in Nigeria were measured.
• Human exposure estimates for PBDEs in Nigeria are higher than in South Africa.
• First set of scientific data generated on PBDEs in indoor dust from Makurdi Nigeria.

Information on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the indoor environment in developing countries is still relatively scarce. In this study, house (n=10) and office (n=11) dusts samples collected from Makurdi, Benue State Nigeria were extracted and analysed for most abundant PBDEs congeners in the environment. Soxhlet extraction followed by GC-EIMS was employed for the measurement of PBDEs (BDE-47, -100, -99, -154, -153, -183 and -209). The mean concentration of ∑7 PBDEs ranged from 57 ng g−1 to 80 ng g−1 and a median value of 45 ng g−1and 63 ng g−1 were obtained for house and office dust respectively. The daily exposure and ingestion dose estimates were calculated based on the assumption that 30 mg and 60 mg day−1 dust represent the ingestion rate. In addition, the corresponding time spent indoors was assumed to be 87.5% (adult) and 69% (children) in homes and 22% in offices and day care. The average value exposure rate of ∑7PBDEs for children and adults were 2 ng day−1 and 0.84 ng day−1 respectively. The results in the present study, showed higher exposure estimates for both children and adults’ in house dust from Nigeria compared to South Africa.