Abstract
Dust ingestion is an important route of human exposure to organic contaminants, especially for flame retardants (FRs) in occupational settings. Several classes of organic contaminants were analyzed in matched dust and serum samples from academics and workers in electronics and clothing stores of Faisalabad, Pakistan. The concentrations of contaminants varied in dust as follow: organophosphate FRs (Sigma PFRs) > novel brominated FRs (Sigma NBFRs) > polybrominated diphenyl ethers (Sigma PBDEs) > organochlorine pesticides (Sigma OCPs) > polychlorinated biphenyls (Sigma PCBs), while, in serum, concentration varied: Sigma OCPs > bromophenols (Sigma BPs) > Sigma PCBs > Sigma HO-PCBs approximate to Sigma PBDEs. Two NBFRs, namely 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)-ethane (BTBPE) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate (TBPH), were detected in <10% of the serum samples. p,p'-DDE was the major contaminant in serum contributing to similar to 75% of the total contaminant burden. Levels of Penta-BDE congeners in serum and dust were significantly correlated (r = 0.64, p < 0.01) for the academics, suggesting dust ingestion as an important determinant for their serum levels. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.