Many legacy and emerging flame retardants (FRs) have adverse human and environmental health effects. This study reports legacy and emerging FRs in children from nine European countries from the HBM4EU aligned studies. Studies from Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, France, Greece, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Norway conducted between 2014 and 2021 provided data on FRs in blood and urine from 2136 children. All samples were collected and analyzed in alignment with the HBM4EU protocols. Ten halogenated FRs were quantified in blood, and four organophosphate flame retardants (OPFR) metabolites quantified in urine. Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) were infrequently detected (<16% of samples). BDE-47 was quantified in blood from Greece, France, and Norway, with France (0.36 ng/g lipid) having the highest concentrations. BDE-153 and -209 were detected in <40% of samples. Dechlorane Plus (DP) was quantified in blood from four countries, with notably high median concentrations of 16 ng/g lipid in Slovenian children. OPFR metabolites had a higher detection frequency than other halogenated FRs. Diphenyl phosphate (DPHP) was quantified in 99% of samples across 8 countries at levels ∼5 times higher than other OPFR metabolites (highest median in Slovenia of 2.43 ng/g lipid). FR concentrations were associated with lifestyle factors such as cleaning frequency, employment status of the father of the household, and renovation status of the house, among others. The concentrations of BDE-47 in children from this study were similar to or lower than FRs found in adult matrices in previous studies, suggesting lower recent exposure and effectiveness of PBDE restrictions.

• Keywords
• Children, Europe, HBM4EU, Human biomonitoring, Organophosphate flame retardants, Polybrominated diphenyl ethers,
• MeSH
• Child MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Lipids MeSH
• Flame Retardants * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Child MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Geographicals
• Europe MeSH
• Names of Substances
• 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether MeSH Browser
• Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers MeSH
• Lipids MeSH
• Flame Retardants * MeSH

Polyurethane foam passive air samplers (PUF-PAS) are the most common type of passive air sampler used for a range of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), including regulated persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and emerging contaminants (e.g., novel flame retardants, phthalates, current-use pesticides). Data from PUF-PAS are key indicators of effectiveness of global regulatory actions on SVOCs, such as the Global Monitoring Plan of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. While most PUF-PAS use similar double-dome metal shielding, there is no standardized dome size, shape, or deployment configuration, with many different PUF-PAS designs used in regional and global monitoring. Yet, no information is available on the comparability of data from studies using different PUF-PAS designs. We brought together 12 types of PUF-PAS used by different research groups around the world and deployed them in a multi-part intercomparison to evaluate the variability in reported concentrations introduced by different elements of PAS monitoring. PUF-PAS were deployed for 3 months in outdoor air in Kjeller, Norway in 2015-2016 in three phases to capture (1) the influence of sampler design on data comparability, (2) the influence of analytical variability when samplers are analyzed at different laboratories, and (3) the overall variability in global monitoring data introduced by differences in sampler configurations and analytical methods. Results indicate that while differences in sampler design (in particular, the spacing between the upper and lower sampler bowls) account for up to 50 % differences in masses collected by samplers, the variability introduced by analysis in different laboratories far exceeds this amount, resulting in differences spanning orders of magnitude for POPs and PAHs. The high level of variability due to analysis in different laboratories indicates that current SVOC air sampling data (i.e., not just for PUF-PAS but likely also for active air sampling) are not directly comparable between laboratories/monitoring programs. To support on-going efforts to mobilize more SVOC data to contribute to effectiveness evaluation, intercalibration exercises to account for uncertainties in air sampling, repeated at regular intervals, must be established to ensure analytical comparability and avoid biases in global-scale assessments of SVOCs in air caused by differences in laboratory performance.

• Keywords
• Global air monitoring, PUF disk, Passive air sampling, Persistent organic pollutants, Semi-volatile organic compounds, Stockholm Convention,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Concentrations and isomer compositions of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) were measured in six matrices in the Czech Republic (HBCD technical mixture; consumer products; indoor and outdoor air at industrial, urban and background locations; soils; and sediments) to provide insight into changes in concentrations and isomer profiles between environmental sources and environmental sinks. A distinct gradient of air concentrations was observed, from 1600 ng/m3 in the industrial area to < 10 pg/m3 in urban and background air. Isomer profiles also showed a distinct gradient in air, from 95% γ-HBCD in industrial air to 40% γ-HBCD in background air, suggesting the influence of differential atmospheric transport and phototransformation of γ- to α-HBCD. Concentrations and isomer compositions in consumer products were highly variable and indicated differences between products with intentional addition of HBCD as a flame retardant versus those with HBCD as an impurity, e.g., from recycled plastic. Understanding the isomer-specific environmental distributions and processes remains important for risk assessment and toxicology, considering the continued use of HBCD and the isomer-specific differences in uptake, metabolism, and toxicity, and further, demonstrates the utility of isomer profiles to better understand environmental processes of HBCDs.

• Keywords
• Atmospheric transport, Consumer products, Flame retardants, HBCD, Isomer profiles, Sources,
• MeSH
• Hydrocarbons, Brominated analysis   chemistry   MeSH
• Isomerism MeSH
• Environmental Pollutants analysis   chemistry   MeSH
• Environmental Monitoring methods   MeSH
• Soil chemistry   MeSH
• Flame Retardants analysis   MeSH
• Consumer Product Safety MeSH
• Air analysis   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Hydrocarbons, Brominated MeSH
• hexabromocyclododecane MeSH Browser
• Environmental Pollutants MeSH
• Soil MeSH
• Flame Retardants MeSH