Size-dependent atmospheric deposition and inhalation exposure of particle-bound organophosphate flame retardants

Atmospheric size-fractionated particles were collected at different heights in an e-waste recycling zone (QY) and urban Guangzhou (GZ), China and analyzed for organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs). The total air concentrations of eight OPFRs were 130 +/- 130 and 138 +/- 127 ng m(-3) in QY and GZ, respectively. Compositional profiles of chlorinated OPFRs were different between QY and GZ, but the size distribution patterns of all OPFRs were not significantly different at different heights. Estimated atmospheric deposition fluxes of OPFRs were 51 +/- 67 and 55 +/- 13 mu gm(-2) d(-1) in QY and GZ, respectively, and the coarse particles (D-p > 1.8 mu m) dominated both the dry and wet deposition fluxes. Moreover, not all particle-bound OPFRs were inhalable and deposited in the human respiratory tract. The calculated inhalation doses of OPFRs were much lower than the reference doses, suggesting that potential health risk due to inhalation exposure to particle-bound OPFRs in the e-waste recycling zone and urban site was low. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.