Towards development of a rapid and effective non-destructive testing strategy to identify brominated flame retardants in the plastics of consumer products

摘要: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a class of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) once extensively used in the plastics wide range consumer products. The listing certain congeners that constituents commercial PBDE mixtures (including c-octaBDE) Stockholm Convention and tightening regulation many other BFRs recent years have created need for rapid effective method identifying BFR-containing plastics. A three-tiered testing strategy comparing results from non-destructive (X-ray fluorescence (XRF)) (n=1714), surface wipe test (n=137) destructive chemical analysis (n=48) was undertaken to systematically identify XRF rapidly identified bromine 92% products later confirmed contain BFRs. Surface wipes tetrabromobisphenol (TBBPA), c-octaBDE BDE-209 with relatively high accuracy (>75%) when by analysis. relationship between amounts detected subsequent shows promise predicting not only types present but also estimating concentrations present. Information about may persistent will assist regulators implementing policies further reduce occurrence these chemicals