Behavior analysis and control of brominated flame retardants from household products using model rooms

Many household products are treated with flame retardants for the purpose of prevention of fire. Home electronics appliances such as television sets or textile such as curtains contain brominated flame retardants (BFRs) at high concentrations. In this study, behavior of BFRs such as PBDEs and HBCDs emitted from flame retarded household products was investigated using actual room in the model house. The objectives of this study are (1) to determine the concentration of BFRs in indoor air, (2) to evaluate the partition behavior of BFRs among indoor air, house dust and adsorption to room floor and wall, (3) to evaluate efficiency of control methods to remove BFRs in indoor air. Two countermeasures for BFR control, recirculating ventilation through charcoal (to remove BFRs by adsorption) and air cleaner (to remove airborne dust in indoor air) were evaluated. Indoor air concentrations of PBDEs, PBDD/DFs, HBCDs and TBBPA were increased by placing household products in the chamber. Surface loading (i.e., deposition in the room and transfer to house dust) is important when considering indoor behavior of emitted PBDEs and HBCDs from products. Both recirculating ventilation through charcoal and air cleaner were effective methods to control PBDEs and HBCDs emitted from the products.