TY - JOUR
T1 - Investigating the associations between organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) and fine particles in paired indoor and outdoor air
T2 - A probabilistic prediction model for deriving OPFRs in indoor environments
AU - Lu, Quang Oai
AU - Jung, Chien Cheng
AU - Chao, How Ran
AU - Chen, Pei Shih
AU - Lee, Chia Wei
AU - Thi Phuong Tran, Quynh
AU - Ciou, Jyun Yi
AU - Chang, Wei Hsiang
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by grant 107-2314-B-006-006 and 108-2314-B-006-038-MY2 from the National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan.
Funding Information:
We thank the participants for their contributions and our colleagues at the Research Center of Environmental Trace Toxic Substances for their sampling and analytical support. This work was supported by grant 107-2314-B-006-006 and 108-2314-B-006-038-MY2 from the National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan. All data support our published claims and comply with field standards. The study protocol was approved by the NCKUH Human Experiment and Ethics Committee (identification code: B-ER-107-010; date of approval: 13 February 2018). All participants provided verbal informed consent. Consent to Participate: Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study. Consent to Publication: The authors affirm that human research participants provided informed consent for publication. Availability of data and materials: The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [Wei-Hsiang Chang, [email protected]], upon reasonable request.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s)
PY - 2023/4
Y1 - 2023/4
N2 - Contaminants of emerging concern such as organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are associated with atmospheric fine particles (PM2.5), which pose the greatest health risk in the world. However, few surveys have explored the interaction between PM2.5 and OPFRs in residential paired indoor/outdoor environments. 11 priority OPFRs and PM2.5 were investigated across 178 paired indoor and outdoor air samples taken from 89 children's households in southern Taiwan, across cold and warm seasons. This involved exploring their associations with building characteristics, interior materials, and human activities. We developed a probabilistic predictive model for indoor OPFRs based on the indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratio of contaminants and an air quality index. The significant associations of paired indoor/outdoor OPFRs and PM2.5 were explored. The indoor level of OPFRs was greater than that of outdoor households, contrasting with PM2.5. The I/O OPFRs ratio was higher than 1 (except for TEHP, EHDPP, and TCP), which suggests that the sources of OPFRs were primarily emitted from indoors. Indoor TCEP was significantly positively associated with indoor and outdoor PM2.5. The OPFR level detected in apartments was higher than in houses due to the greater decoration, furniture and electronic devices. However, this was not the case for PM2.5. TCIPP was the dominant compound in paired indoor and outdoor air. The indoor OPFR predictive model obtained a high accuracy with an R2 value of 0.87. The material used in mattresses, the use of purifiers and heaters, and the total material area were the main influencing factors for indoor OPFRs in households. These findings could provide important evidence of the interaction between paired indoor/outdoor OPFRs and PM2.5 and interior equipment in different building types. In addition, it could prevent the potential risks posed by indoor/outdoor air pollutants and eliminate OPFR emissions through the selection of better construction and building materials.
AB - Contaminants of emerging concern such as organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are associated with atmospheric fine particles (PM2.5), which pose the greatest health risk in the world. However, few surveys have explored the interaction between PM2.5 and OPFRs in residential paired indoor/outdoor environments. 11 priority OPFRs and PM2.5 were investigated across 178 paired indoor and outdoor air samples taken from 89 children's households in southern Taiwan, across cold and warm seasons. This involved exploring their associations with building characteristics, interior materials, and human activities. We developed a probabilistic predictive model for indoor OPFRs based on the indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratio of contaminants and an air quality index. The significant associations of paired indoor/outdoor OPFRs and PM2.5 were explored. The indoor level of OPFRs was greater than that of outdoor households, contrasting with PM2.5. The I/O OPFRs ratio was higher than 1 (except for TEHP, EHDPP, and TCP), which suggests that the sources of OPFRs were primarily emitted from indoors. Indoor TCEP was significantly positively associated with indoor and outdoor PM2.5. The OPFR level detected in apartments was higher than in houses due to the greater decoration, furniture and electronic devices. However, this was not the case for PM2.5. TCIPP was the dominant compound in paired indoor and outdoor air. The indoor OPFR predictive model obtained a high accuracy with an R2 value of 0.87. The material used in mattresses, the use of purifiers and heaters, and the total material area were the main influencing factors for indoor OPFRs in households. These findings could provide important evidence of the interaction between paired indoor/outdoor OPFRs and PM2.5 and interior equipment in different building types. In addition, it could prevent the potential risks posed by indoor/outdoor air pollutants and eliminate OPFR emissions through the selection of better construction and building materials.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85150209564&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85150209564&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107871
DO - 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107871
M3 - Article
C2 - 36931197
AN - SCOPUS:85150209564
SN - 0160-4120
VL - 174
JO - Environment international
JF - Environment international
M1 - 107871
ER -
