Octabromodiphenyl ether – mixture of isomers. Determining in workplace air with gas chromatography – mass spectrometer
Journal Title: Podstawy i Metody Oceny Środowiska Pracy - Year 2016, Vol 32, Issue 2
Abstract
The pure octabromodiphenyl ether (octaBDE) is a white, inflammable solid with characteristic odor, obtained by bromination of diphenyl ether. Octabromodiphenyl ether belongs to the group of brominated aromatic compounds used as flame retardants. It was most often used in the production of synthetic polymers used in the electric, electronic and car industries. Due to its physicochemical proprieties, octabromodiphenyl ether belongs to the group of so called persistent organic pollutants (POP’s) which production and utilization is banned in European Union since 2004. Occupational exposure may take place mainly in waste incineration plants and during using electric and electronic equipment. The most important toxic effects of octabromodiphenyl ether are functional changes in the liver and thyroid, and changes in the respiratory tract after inhalation. Octabromodiphenyl ether did not show mutagenic or genotoxic properties. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified octabromodiphenyl ether in Class D (group of compounds not classified as a carcinogen for humans).The aim of this study was to develop and validate a sensitive method for determining octabromodiphenyl ether concentrations in workplace air in the range from 1/10 to 2 MAC values, in accordance with the requirements of Standard PN-EN 482:2012.Studies were performed using gas chromatography (GC). A 7890B Agilent Technologies gas chromatograph equipped with a 5977A mass spectrometry detector (MSD), ZB 5-HT INFERNO (30 m × 0.25 mm × 0.25 µm) capillary analytical column, autosampler and Mass Hunter software was used for chromatographic separations. The method is based on the adsorption of inhalable fraction of octabromodiphenyl ether on glass fiber filters, desorption with toluene and gas chromatographic-mass detection (GC/MS) analysis of the resulting solution. Extraction efficiency of octabromodiphenyl ether from filters was 95.7%. Samples of octabromodiphenyl ether can be stored in refrigerator for up to 30 days. The use of a ZB 5-HT INFERNO (30 m × 0.25 mm × 0.25 µm) capillary column enabled selective determination of octabromodiphenyl ether in a mixture of polibromineted diphenyl ethers, toluene and other compounds. This method is linear (r = 0.999) within the investigated working range 1 ÷ 20 µg/ml, which is equivalent to air concentrations from 0.01 to 0.20 mg/m3 for a 200-L air sample. Limit of quantification (LOQ) is 0.365 μg/ml. The analytical method described in this paper enables selective determination of octabromodiphenyl ethers in workplace air in the presence of other compounds at concentrations from 0.01 to 0.20 mg/m3 (1/10 ÷ 2 MAC value). The method is precise, accurate and it meets the criteria for procedures for measuring chemical agents listed in Standard PN-EN 482:2012. This method can be used for assessing occupational exposure to octabromodiphenyl ether and associated risk to workers’ health. The developed method of determining octabromodiphenyl ether has been recorded as an analytical procedure (see appendix).
Authors and Affiliations
MAŁGORZATA KUCHARSKA , WIKTOR WESOŁOWSKI
Keywords
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