Human health risks from brominated flame retardants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in indoor dust.

Abstract

Exposure to dust particles containing toxic compounds is linked to serious health outcomes, including cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine if indoor dust from houses and cars contained harmful levels of brominated flame retardants (polybrominated diphenyl ethers, PBDEs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and to assess their potential toxicity to adults and children. In Kuwait, the median concentration of total PBDEs (Ʃ14- PBDEs) was 408.55\xa0μg PBDEs/kg dust in houses and twice as high in cars (838.52\xa0μg PBDEs/kg dust), while total PAHs (Ʃ16-PAHs) were similar in houses (992.81\xa0μg PAHs/kg) and cars (900.42\xa0μg PAHs/kg). The PBDEs and PAHs concentrations in indoor dust were related to house age and square footage, car model year, and natural ventilation. Furthermore, a higher PBDEs concentration was associated with electronic devices that operate continuously, furniture containing foam treated with PBDEs, and cars that are parked outdoors, since PBDEs tend to be volatilized under these conditions. The PAHs concentration in indoor dust increased with smoking and proximity to major roads and industrial facilities, which are major PAHs sources. The hazard quotient and total cancer risk for PBDEs in indoor dust were within safe limits, but indoor dust with higher PAHs concentrations had hazard quotients from 5.51 to 11.23 and total cancer risk of 10-3 for adults and children. We conclude that exposure to PAHs-contaminated indoor dust from houses and cars where smoking occurs can increase the cancer risk of adults and children.