A significant number of consumer goods and building materials act as emission sources of flame retardants (FRs) in the indoor environment. As a result, FRs have become ubiquitous indoors raising concerns about human exposure and possible health implications. Once released indoors, FRs can escape to the outdoors where they can persist, be transported over long distances and present a threat to the environment. Despite the increasing number of studies reporting the occurrence of FRs in the indoor environment, the understanding of i) how and to what extent these chemicals are released from indoor sources, and ii) their subsequent fate indoors remains limited. The overarching objective of this thesis was to improve this understanding by assessing the indoor emissions and fate of FRs using a combination of multimedia modelling strategies and experimental/empirical approaches. Paper I identifies a number of knowledge gaps and limitations regarding indoor emissions and fate of FRs and the available modelling approaches. These include a limited understanding of the key emission mechanisms for low volatility FRs, uncertainties regarding indoor air/surface partitioning, poor characterization of dust and film dynamics and a significant lack of knowledge regarding indoor reaction/degradation processes. In Paper II we highlighted the serious scarcity in physicochemical property data for the alternative FRs and demonstrated the applicability of a simple QSPR technique for selecting reliable property estimates for chemical assessments. A modelling fate assessment indicated a strong partitioning to indoor surfaces and dust for most of the alternative FRs. Indications for POP (persistent organic pollutant)-like persistence and LRT (long-range transport) and bioaccumulative potential in the outdoor environment were also identified for many alternative FRs. Using an inverse modelling approach in Paper III we estimated 2 to 3 orders of magnitude higher emissions of organophosphate FRs (0.52 and 0.32 ng.h-1) than brominated FRs (0.083 μg.h-1 and 0.41 μg.h-1) in Norwegian households. An emission-to-dust signal was also identified for organophosphate FRs suggesting that direct migration to dust may be a key fate process indoors. No evidence of a direct source-to-dust transfer mechanism was seen in Paper IV where the chemical transfer between a product treated with an organophosphate FR and dust in direct contact was experimentally investigated. It was concluded though that direct contact between an FR source and dust can result in contamination hotspots indoors. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 3: Manuscript. Paper 4: Manuscript.</p>

The diversity of choices we have to make everyday influence our environment and ourselves in more ways than most of us realise. Anthropogenic substances, such as flame retardants, date back as early as 450 BC when the Egyptians used alum to reduce flammability. The increasing demand for new articles has led to an increased production of chemical substances, for which many are commercially produced without complete knowledge on properties such as persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicology (PBT). Commercial compounds may be properly tested and denominated as “safe” regarding PBT properties, but their degradation products and/or metabolites may cause environmental impact. The availability of uniform and accurate data for prediction of persistence is of key importance for the understanding of chemical fate. A method to determine the susceptibility of chemicals to undergo oxidation in water has been developed and applied on several organohalogens, including PBDEs and OH-PBDEs. The method was used to determine reaction rates and the group of OH-PBDEs were subsequently subjected to photolysis by use of UV-light. Hence, susceptibility to undergo both oxidation and photolysis for the OH-PBDEs were investigated and compared to previously reported degradation rates on PBDEs. As a final step in promoting the prediction of persistence, Quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) models were performed on a set of compounds which had undergone photolytic degradation under similar conditions. The QSPRs were used as a preliminary step in predicting photolysis half-lives for chemical substances and to determine which physicochemical descriptors are of greatest importance thereof. This thesis presents the possibility of performing and assessing oxidation transformations on compounds of low and high water solubility, photolysis transformations in various media and using obtained data to predict behaviour via QSPR models, to promote predictions of persistence.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are chemical substances that are widely distributed throughout the environment, accumulate in the fatty tissue of living organisms, are found at higher concentrations in the food chain and are toxic to both humans and wildlife. In the present work, POPs were determined in honey samples from different geographic regions, evaluating both the quality and safety of honey as food, and the environmental contamination of the studied regions. Organochlorine pesticides were analysed in 186 samples from the South region of Brazil, with concentrations between <LOQ and 92 ng g-1. Pesticides Endosulfan alpha and Endosulfan sulfate were the most frequent, with mean of 1.84 and 1.68 ng g-1, respectively. Samples from Santa Catarina State had higher Aldrin concentrations when compared to those from Rio Grande do Sul and Paraná States, while there was a reduction in the Endrin concentration in the samples collected in 2011, when compared with those collected in 2010. With regard to food security, 18% of the samples exceeded the maximum residue limits allowed by law for compounds Aldrin, p,p'-DDT, Endosulfan alpha, Endrin, and Heptachlor, which may pose a risk to consumer health. Indicator PCBs were analysed in 137 samples from Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná, and São Paulo States. PCBs 28 and 52 were the most frequent, with means of 1.18 and 0.74 ng g-1, respectively. Samples from São Paulo State exhibited the highest levels (ΣPCBs 7.52 ng g-1), followed by samples from Paraná (ΣPCBs 5.4 ng g-1), Santa Catarina (ΣPCBs 2.59 ng g-1), and Rio Grande do Sul (ΣPCBs 1.24 ng g-1), with significant difference for PCBs 28 and 52. There was no difference between the concentrations of samples collected in the years 2009, 2010, and 2011. DL-PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs were analysed in 16 samples from four Brazilian States (RS, SC, PR and SP). DL-PCB concentrations ranged between 24.3 and 260 pg g-1, while PCDD/Fs, between <LOD and 5.4 pg g-1. TEQ values were between 0.002 and 0.343 pg WHO-TEQ g-1. No significant difference was found among the concentration levels of the samples from the four States. Brominated flame retardants (PBDEs, BTBPE and DBDPE) were analysed in 35 honey samples from Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and Slovenia, with concentrations ranged between <LOD and 24.7 pg g-1. Brazilian honeys exhibited the highest mean concentration (5.19 pg g-1), followed by Moroccan (4.4 pg g-1), Portuguese (2.24 pg g-1), Spanish (1.77 pg g-1), and Slovenian (0.93 pg g-1) samples. PBDE 47 was the most frequent, being detected in 91% of samples, and followed by PBDE 99, in 63%. These compounds were the main contributors in the BFR total concentration in samples from Europe, while the novel flame retardants, BTBPE and DBDPE, had greater contribution in samples from Brazil and Morocco. With regard to food security, there is no limit established by law for PCBs, PCDDs, PCDFs, and BFRs in honey. Although the levels detected were quite low when compared to other foods of animal origin, the honey samples analysed showed significant contamination, demonstrating that the studied regions contain sources of environmental contamination to be investigated. / Os Poluentes Orgânicos Persistentes (POPs) são compostos químicos sintéticos que estão amplamente distribuídos no meio ambiente, acumulam-se nos tecidos lipídicos dos seres vivos, são encontrados em altas concentrações na cadeia alimentar e apresentam efeitos tóxicos aos seres humanos e animais. No presente trabalho, os POPs foram determinados em mel de abelhas de diferentes regiões geográficas, buscando avaliar a qualidade e segurança do mel como alimento, bem como a contaminação ambiental das regiões estudadas. Os praguicidas organoclorados foram analisados em 186 amostras da região Sul do Brasil, com concentrações que variaram entre <LQ e 92 ng g-1. Os praguicidas Endosulfan alfa e Endosulfan sulfato foram os mais frequentes, com média de 1,84 e 1,68 ng g-1, respectivamente. As amostras provenientes de Santa Catarina apresentaram concentrações maiores de Aldrin quando comparadas às provenientes do Rio Grande do Sul e Paraná, enquanto que observou-se uma redução na concentração de Endrin nas amostras coletadas no ano de 2011, quando comparadas com as coletadas em 2010. Com relação à segurança alimentar, 18% das amostras superaram o limite máximo de resíduos permitido pela legislação para os compostos Aldrin, p,p -DDT, Endosulfan alfa, Endrin e Heptacloro, o que pode representar risco à saúde do consumidor. Os PCBs indicadores foram analisados em 137 amostras provenientes dos estados do Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná e São Paulo. Os congêneres 28 e 52 foram os mais frequentes, com média de 1,18 e 0,74 ng g-1, respectivamente. As amostras provenientes do estado de São Paulo apresentaram os níveis mais elevados (ΣPCBs 7,52 ng g-1), seguidas das amostras do Paraná (ΣPCBs 5,4 ng g-1), Santa Catarina (ΣPCBs 2,59 ng g-1) e Rio Grande do Sul (ΣPCBs 1,24 ng g-1), com diferença significativa para os PCBs 28 e 52. Não houve diferença entre as concentrações das amostras coletadas nos anos de 2009, 2010 e 2011. DL-PCBs, PCDDs e PCDFs foram analisados em 16 amostras provenientes de quatro estados brasileiros (RS, SC, PR e SP). As concentrações de DL-PCBs variaram entre 24,3 e 260 pg g-1, enquanto que as de PCDD/Fs, entre <LD e 5,4 pg g-1. Os valores de TEQ ficaram entre 0,002 e 0,343 pg WHO-TEQ g-1. Nenhuma diferença significativa foi encontrada entre as concentrações das amostras provenientes dos quatro estados. Retardantes de chama bromados (PBDEs, BTBPE e DBDPE) foram analisados em 35 amostras provenientes do Brasil, Espanha, Portugal, Marrocos e Eslovênia, com concentrações que variaram entre <LD e 24,7 pg g-1. As amostras provenientes do Brasil apresentaram a maior concentração média (5,19 pg g-1), seguidas das provenientes do Marrocos (4,4 pg g-1), Portugal (2,24 pg g-1), Espanha (1,77 pg g-1) e Eslovênia (0,93 pg g-1). O PBDE 47 foi o mais frequente, tendo sido detectado em 91% das amostras analisadas, seguido do PBDE 99, em 63%. Estes compostos foram os que mais contribuíram na concentração total de BFRs nas amostras provenientes da Europa, enquanto que os novos retardantes de chama, BTBPE e DBDPE, tiveram maior contribuição nas amostras do Brasil e Marrocos. Com relação à segurança alimentar, não há limite máximo estabelecido para PCBs, PCDDs, PCDFs e BFRs em mel de abelhas. Embora os níveis detectados destes compostos tenham sido baixos quando comparados a outros alimentos de origem animal, as amostras de mel de abelhas analisadas apresentaram contaminações importantes, demonstrando que as regiões estudadas contêm fontes de contaminação ambiental a serem investigadas.

Ces travaux de thèse portent sur la photodégradation de retardateurs de flamme bromés  (RFB) : décabromodiphényléther (BDE -209), tétrabromobisphénol A (TBBPA), TBBPA bis (allyl) éther (TBBPA-BAE) et TBBPA bis (2,3-dibromopropyl) éther (TBBPA- DBPE) en milieu solide et dans des échantillons réels. Nous avons d’abord caractérisé par chromatographie en phase liquide-haute résolution couplée à la spectrométrie de masse (LC-HR-MS) le BDE-209 et ses produits de dégradation dans des échantillons de textiles issus de sièges auto des véhicules hors usage (VHUs) des années 90. Puis, nous avons mené des expériences prouvant que ces produits de dégradation étaient d’origine photochimique. Dans un deuxième temps, nous avons étudié l’effet du polystyrène sur la photodégradation du BDE-209, TBBPA et ses dérivés et l’effet de ces RFBs sur la photodégradation du polystyrène. Des analyses par différentes techniques spectroscopiques et chromatographiques (IR, ATR-FTIR, GC-MS, SEC) ont mis en évidence un net effet d’accélération réciproque. La SEC (chromatographie d’exclusion stérique) a révélé une augmentation drastique des coupures de chaîne du PS avec fragmentation. En outre, des photoproduits résultant de l'oxydation du PS et de sa bromation par Br· ont été observés pour la première fois. L’existence de ces sous-produits suggère un nouveau mécanisme de transformation de PS en présence de RFB. Certains de ces photoproduits migrent dans l’eau et l’air, pouvant causer une pollution environnementale. / The main objective of this PhD thesis was to evaluate the photodegradation of brominated flame retardants (BFRs): decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), TBBPA bis (allyl) ether (TBBPA-BAE) and TBBPA bis(2,3-dibromopropyl) ether (TBBPA-DBPE) in solid medium and real samples. As a first step, we characterized by liquid chromatography high-resolution-mass spectrometry (LC-HR-MS) the BDE-209 and its degradation products in textile samples from car seats of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) of the 1990s. Then we demonstrated that these products were formed by photodegradation. In a second step, we investigated the effect of polystyrene on the photodegradation of BDE-209, TBBPA and its derivatives and the effect of these RFBs on the photodegradation of polystyrene. Analyses carried out by chromatography and spectroscopy techniques (IR, ATR-FTIR, GC-MS, SEC) revealed significant and mutual acceleration effects. SEC (exclusion size chromatography) showed a drastic increase in chain breaks of PS. Morover, additional photoproducts that may result from PS oxidation and Br • bromination has been observed for the first time. The formation of these byproducts suggests a new PS transformation mechanism in the presence of BFR. Some of these photoproducts can migrate into water and air causing environmental pollution.

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are chemicals used in e.g. electronic equipment, textiles and plastics for the prevention of fire. Over recent decades, concern has been raised regarding some heavily used BFRs, since the levels in the environment have been increasing. In the present thesis, persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) properties were studied for a structurally varied set of BFRs selected to represent more than 60 organic BFRs. The studied BFRs include: 2,4,4'-tribromodiphenyl ether (BDE 28), 2,2',3,4,4',5',6-heptabromodiphenyl ether (BDE  183), decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE 209), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), tetrabromobisphenol A 2-hydroxyethyl ether (TBBPA OHEE), 2,4,6-tribromophenol (246BrPh), 1,2-dibromo-4-(1,2-dibromoethyl)cyclohexane (TBECH), and hexabromobenzene (HxBrBz). It is likely that soil will act as a sink for BFRs. Therefore, studies of BFRs were performed on persistence in soil, and on bioaccumulation from soil in the earthworm Eisenia fetida. Large variation in the biodegradability in soil among the tested BFRs was observed. The studied brominated diphenyl ethers (BDE 28 and BDE 209) were very persistent under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, while 246BrPh and TBECH degraded quickly in both aerobic and anaerobic soil. The bioaccumulation in earthworm from soil was high for HxBrBz, TBECH and for tested brominated diphenyl ethers with 4-6 bromine atoms (BDE 47, BDE 99, and BDE 153). Bioaccumulation was also studied in zebrafish after dietary exposure to a mixture of BFRs. It was shown that several metabolites were formed and retained in zebrafish, which highlights the importance of also searching for and identifying persistent degradation products. Maternal transfer was shown for all BFRs present in the female zebrafish. This shows that zebrafish young (fry) are exposed to these BFRs at approximately the same concentrations as female zebrafish during the early-life stages, when fish are usually most sensitive to organic contaminants. Toxicity of individual BFRs and a BFR mixture was studied in Nitocra spinipes using a silica gel-based system. Highest toxicities were observed for BDE 28, TBBPA, and TBBPA OHEE. In the mixture toxicity study, simultaneous exposure to low concentrations (individually causing no significant effect) of six BFRs significantly affected the survival of Nitocra spinipes. The results from the PBT studies presented in the thesis and literature data were compared with the criteria for PBT classification, as set in the European REACH legislation. Further, some BFRs with physico-chemical properties similar to those of identified PBTs were suggested to be prioritized for future PBT testing.