Short-chain and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins in Canadian house dust and NIST SRM 2585
- DOI
- Language of the publication
- English
- Date
- 2019-01-17
- Type
- Article
- Author(s)
- Shang, Hongtao
- Fan, Xinghua
- Kubwabo, Cariton
- Rasmussen, Pat E.
- Publisher
- Springer
Abstract
A method for the analysis of short-chain and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs and MCCPs) in house dust was developed. The method is based on sonication extraction, sample cleanup by solid phase extraction (SPE), and separation and detection by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) operated in electron capture negative ion (ECNI) chemical ionization mode. The method is sensitive, with method detection limits (MDLs) down to 0.22 μg/g for SCCPs and 0.55 μg/g for MCCPs. The overall recoveries of the method were 104 (± 11)% and 108 (± 16)% for SCCPs and MCCPs, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of SCCPs and MCCPs in NIST standard reference material (SRM 2585, organic contaminants in house dust) and a subset of house dust samples collected under the Canadian House Dust Study (CHDS). Average concentrations of SCCPs and MCCPs in SRM 2585 (n = 12 replicates) were 7.58 (± 0.43) μg/g for SCCPs and 16.4 (± 2.1) μg/g for MCCPs, respectively. A comparison was made between CP concentrations in paired dust samples collected using two different methods from the same homes: fresh or "active" dust (FD) collected by technicians and a sample taken from the household vacuum cleaner (HD). Spearman rank analysis showed a significant positive correlation (p < 0.01) between FD and HD samples for both MCCPs and SCCPs. CPs were detected in every house dust sample (n = 48 HD samples), with median (range) concentrations of 6.2 (4.0 - 57) μg/g and 19 (5.9-901) μg/g for SCCPs and MCCPs, respectively. Widely scattered CP levels and 100% detection frequency in this preliminary set of 48 HD samples suggest a wide variability in Canadian household exposures to CPs.
Plain language summary
Health Canada is responsible for the assessment and management of health risks to Canadians associated with exposure to products and chemicals in the environment. Chlorinated paraffins (CPs, or polychlorinated n-alkanes, PCAs) have been widely used as both flame retardants and plasticizers in rubbers and textiles, in paints and coating, in leather processing, and also as metal working fluids and sealants. Chlorinated paraffins have been classified as Group 2B - possibly carcinogenic to humans based on animal study results by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Chlorinated paraffins can easily be released into the environment from consumer products over time and have been detected in a variety of environmental and biological samples. In this study, Health Canada researchers developed a new analytical method and measured short-chain and medium-chain CPs (SCCPs and MCCPs) in 48 dust samples, a subset of dust samples collected under the Canadian House Dust Study. The results revealed that the new analytical method was highly sensitive. This study provides Health Canada with a new tool to conduct assessments of Canadians' exposure to chlorinated paraffins of emerging concern.
Subject
- Health,
- Health and safety