Development and validation of a multi-residue method for the analysis of brominated and organophosphate flame retardants in indoor dust

Highlights - PBDEs and OPFRs were analysed in dust samples by one injection only, except for BDE 209. - The most efficient sorbent for OPFRs purification was found to be Envi-Carb cartridge. - LORs were 6.2–1000 ng/g and 0.14 −1100 ng/g for OPFRs and PBDEs, respectively. - Validation studies showed the good accuracy and reproducibility of the method. - SRM and real dust samples were analysed, with >50 detection frequency for most compounds. Flame retardants are associated to numerous adverse health effects, can accumulate in humans and have been used intensively worldwide. Recently, dust has been identified as a major human exposure route for flame retardants. The aim of this study was to develop a multi-residue method using a two-step SPE purification. It enabled us to effectively limit co-extracted matrix/interferets and therefore a simultaneous analysis of brominated and organophosphate flame retardants for indoor dust was achieved. The optimized method was validated according to standard protocol and achieved good accuracy and reproducibility (percent error ranged from −29% to 28%). Standard Reference Material (SRM) for dust was also analysed, and good agreement was found with reported brominated and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) concentrations. The applicability of the validated method was demonstrated by the analysis of ten indoor dust samples from ten Australian homes. Overall 89% of the analytes were detected in these samples. The average concentrations of ∑OPFRs and ∑PBDEs in those samples were 41 and 3.6 μg/g, respectively. Tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate and tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate were the most abundant OPFRs, accounting for 57–92% ∑OPFRs, while decabromodiphenyl ether dominated the Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) congeners contributing between 71–94% to the ∑PBDE