Elevated Concentrations of Halogenated Flame Retardants in Waste Childcare Articles from Ireland

22 Pages Posted: 19 Sep 2022

See all articles by Stuart Harrad

Stuart Harrad

University of Birmingham

Daniel Drage

University of Birmingham

MARTIN SHARKEY

University of Galway

Will Stubbings

University of Birmingham

Misbah Alghamdi

University of Birmingham

Harald Berresheim

University of Galway

Marie Coggins

University of Galway

André Henrique Rosa

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Abstract

Concentrations of legacy and alternative halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) including chlorinated organophosphate esters (Cl-OPEs), were measured in waste childcare articles (n=274 for Cl-OPEs, n=187 for other HFRs) from the Republic of Ireland between 2019 and 2020. Articles studied comprised foams and fabrics from: child car seats, cot mattresses, changing mats, pushchairs, prams, and related items. Fifteen articles (7.7%) exceeded the European Union limit value of 1,000 mg/kg for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) (all due to BDE-209), an additional 15 exceeded the limit for hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD), with 6 articles exceeding the limit for both PBDEs and HBCDD. An even greater proportion of articles contained concentrations exceeding 1,000 mg/kg for: tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCIPP) (n=75, 27%) and tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) (n=58, 21%), with concentrations greater than 1,000 mg/kg also observed for: tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) (n=14, 5.0% articles), 2-ethylhexyl tetrabromobenzoate (EH-TBB) (n=7, 3.7%), decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), and bis(2-ethylhexyl)tetrabromophthalate (BEH-TEBP) (both n=5, 2.7%). Overall, 115 samples contained at least one HFR at a concentration exceeding 1,000 mg/kg. In addition to the waste management implications of our findings, our data raise concerns about child exposure to HFRs during the use phase of these everyday items.

Keywords: Brominated flame retardants, Chlorinated organophosphate esters, Child car seats, Cot mattresses, Waste management

Suggested Citation

Harrad, Stuart and Drage, Daniel and SHARKEY, MARTIN and Stubbings, Will and Alghamdi, Misbah and Berresheim, Harald and Coggins, Marie and Rosa, André Henrique, Elevated Concentrations of Halogenated Flame Retardants in Waste Childcare Articles from Ireland. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4223144 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4223144

Stuart Harrad (Contact Author)

University of Birmingham ( email )

Edgbaston, B15 2TT
United Kingdom

Daniel Drage

University of Birmingham ( email )

MARTIN SHARKEY

University of Galway ( email )

Galway
Ireland

Will Stubbings

University of Birmingham ( email )

Misbah Alghamdi

University of Birmingham ( email )

Edgbaston, B15 2TT
United Kingdom

Harald Berresheim

University of Galway ( email )

Galway
Ireland

Marie Coggins

University of Galway ( email )

Galway
Ireland

André Henrique Rosa

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

No Address Available

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