[Contamination Characteristics and Human Exposure to Organophosphate Flame Retardants in Road Dust from Suzhou City]

The contamination levels and distribution characteristics of four organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) in 25 outdoor dust samples collected in Suzhou were quantitatively analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The exposure to OPFRs via ingestion and inhalation of dust were also estimated for adults, children, and professional street sweepers. Four types of OPFRs were detected in all dust samples at different levels; the total OPFRs concentrations ranged from non-detected (ND) to 8901.66 ng·g^-1, with a median of 1039.21 ng·g^-1. The concentrations of TCPP, TBEP, TDCPP, and TCEP were in the range of 0-6931.46, 0-2021.15, 0-788.44, and 0-62.16 ng·g^-1, respectively. The daily intake of ∑OPEs under a high dust ingestion scenario was 125.68, 915.78, and 6314.16 pg·kg^-1 for adults, children, and professional street sweepers, respectively. The estimated exposure of children to ∑OPEs was six times higher than that of adults. However, the daily intake of OPFRs via dust inhalation was 3.07E-02, 1.89E-02, and 1.54E-01 pg·kg^-1 for adults, children, and professional street sweepers, respectively. These findings indicated that the occurrence of OPFRs in the dust poses a significant risk to children and professional street sweepers.