Analysis of common and emerging brominated flame retardants in house dust using ultrasonic assisted solvent extraction and on-line sample preparation via column switching with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are persistent and widespread chemicals. Therefore human beings are exposed to BFRs. House dust may be one source of exposure and contains a lot of xenobiotics in relatively high concentrations. In contrast to common GC-MS based methods here an online LC-MS/MS method is presented to quantify 16 BFRs in dust using ultrasonic solvent extraction as a single sample work up step. LOQ from 0.6 (tetrabromobisphenol A) to 80 (polybrominated diphenylethers (BDE 28) ng/g dust were achieved. Data for accuracy, precision and recovery are presented and are comparable to common LC-MS/MS methods in different matrices. In addition 5 real house dust samples were analyzed with high concentration (535 ng/g) for bis(2-ethyl-1-hexyl)tetrabromophthalate which is a novel alternative BFRs to replace common BDE's.