抄録
Recently our attention has focused on the house dust as an important exposure source for human, especially toddler and children. At 2008, our study indicated 2,4,6-tribromophenol (TriBPh) was ubiquitous in the home and work environments. Although the consumption of 2,4,6-TriBPh as a flame retardant (FR) has been reported in Japan and worldwide, it was not regarded as used directly as a FR, but rather as an intermediates for other FRs. This study investigated 2,4,6-TriBPh concentrations in 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy) ethane, TBBPA carbonate oligomer, and brominated epoxy resin as possible sources. As a result, 2,4,6-TriBPh were 34 to 520 ppm, which are less than 1% of each target FR. In this case, there is no obligation for notification of 2,4,6-TriBPh as an impurity according to the act on the evaluation of chemical substances and regulation of their manufacture in Japan. However, it was estimated that environmental emission factor of 2,4,6-TriBPh tended to be higher than those of tested BFRs based on anticipated vapor pressures. Our study points out that, with the objective of control for exposure of chemicals to environment and human, product information such as Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) should indicate information for impurity with higher vapor pressure leading to environmental emission even if its percent by weight is less than 1%.
