Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in indoor dust and human hair

In the present study, settled workplace dust (n = 55) from commercial offices, secondary schools, shopping malls, hospitals, electronic factories and manufacturing plants in Hong Kong and settled home dust (n = 23) from Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, around the Pearl River Delta were collected. Chemical analyses showed that the total PBDEs in workplace dust ranged from 397 to 40,236 ng g−1, with the dust samples from electronic factories having the highest levels (2122–40,236 ng g−1), and dust from homes ranging from 685 to 18,385 ng g−1. The most abundant BDE congeners found were BDE-209 in both workplace dust and home dust, followed by BDE-99 and BDE-47. No significant correlations were observed between total PBDE concentrations in home dust and the age or the house (p > 0.05), concentrations of BDE-99 + BDE-47 and the number of furniture containing foam (p > 0.05), and concentrations of BDE-209 and the number of electronic appliances (p > 0.05). BDE-47, -99, -100 and -183 were found in most of the hair samples collected from occupants of these homes with BDE-47 being the dominant congener (0.86–5.24 ng g−1). The BDE-183 concentration in home dust was significantly correlated with that in human hair (r = 0.55, p < 0.05, n = 18). Risk assessment indicated that daily intake of PBDEs for children via non-dietary ingestion of dust (101–404 ng day−1) was higher than that via food consumption (77–190 ng day−1).

► BDE-47 was found as the dominant congener in most of the hair samples.
► BDE-183 concentration in house dust was significantly correlated with that in human hair.
► Indoor dust is more important than food for PBDEs exposure in HK, as found elsewhere.