Levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in indoor dust and human exposure estimates from Makurdi, Nigeria.

O I Olukunle, O J Okonkwo, R Sha'ato, G A Wase

Index: Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 120 , 394-9, (2015)

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Abstract

Information on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the indoor environment in developing countries is still relatively scarce. In this study, house (n=10) and office (n=11) dusts samples collected from Makurdi, Benue State Nigeria were extracted and analysed for most abundant PBDEs congeners in the environment. Soxhlet extraction followed by GC-EIMS was employed for the measurement of PBDEs (BDE-47, -100, -99, -154, -153, -183 and -209). The mean concentration of ∑7 PBDEs ranged from 57ngg(-1) to 80ngg(-1) and a median value of 45ngg(-1)and 63ngg(-1) were obtained for house and office dust respectively. The daily exposure and ingestion dose estimates were calculated based on the assumption that 30mg and 60mgday(-1) dust represent the ingestion rate. In addition, the corresponding time spent indoors was assumed to be 87.5% (adult) and 69% (children) in homes and 22% in offices and day care. The average value exposure rate of ∑7PBDEs for children and adults were 2ngday(-1) and 0.84ngday(-1) respectively. The results in the present study, showed higher exposure estimates for both children and adults' in house dust from Nigeria compared to South Africa. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.