Levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in house dust in Central Poland

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers ( PBDE s) are used as flame retardants in numerous products, from which they are emitted to the environment, including house dust. House dust is a source of human exposure to these compounds by ingestion. The aim of this article was to determine the levels of selected PBDE s in the house dust and indicate their potential sources of origin. PBDE congeners: BDE ‐47, BDE ‐99, BDE ‐153 and BDE ‐209, were analyzed in 129 samples. The geometric mean levels (and 95% CI s) of the aforementioned congeners amounted to 3.8 (3.1–4.7) ng/g, 4.5 (3.5–5.6) ng/g, 2.2 (2.1–2.4) ng/g and 345 (269–442) ng/g respectively. BDE ‐209 was the dominant congener in the majority of tested samples. We found a statistically significant correlation between the concentrations of BDE ‐47 and the computer operating time per day ( r s – 0.18) and the living area ( r s – 0.20). Statistically significant higher levels of BDE ‐99 were found in homes where the floor was not replaced during the last 2 years.