Towards a regional passive air sampling network and strategy for new POPs in the GRULAC region: Perspectives from the GAPS Network and first results for Organophosphorus flame retardants

RAUERT CASSANDRA; TOM HARNER; JASMIN K. SCHUSTER; KAREN QUINTO; FILLMANN GILBERTO; LUISA EUGENIA CASTILLO; OSCAR FENTANES; MARTÍN VILLA IBARRA; KARINA S. B. MIGLIORANZA; ISABEL MORENO; KARLA POZO; ANDREA PADILLA PUERTA; MARIA YUMIKO TOMINAGA; BEATRIZ HELENA ARISTIZÁBAL ZULUAGA

SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2016

0048-9697

A discussion is presented on the limitations for air monitoring studies around the Group of Latin American andCaribbean Countries (GRULAC), highlighting key issues requiring further attention, and reports on how a specialinitiative is addressing these limitations. Preliminary results are presented for the first reported data on organophosphorusflame retardant (OPFR) concentrations in outdoor air from the GRULAC region. At the majority ofsites the concentrations and the profile of the OPFRs detected were similar with tris (chloroisopropyl) phosphate(TCPP) dominating (bMDL to 1280 pg/m3). However, the urban location at Concepción, Chile presented higher concentrations and a different profile with tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP) dominating (mean 800 pg/m3vs 80 pg/m3 at the other locations) ?indicating different sources at this location. OPFRs, used extensively as flameretardants and plasticizers, are found ubiquitously in indoor environments yet only few studies report outdoorair levels. This preliminary study of only 7 sites highlights how extensive regional passive sampling networks(such as GAPS) can provide important new information to support risk assessment of these and similarchemicals. Finally, the various challenges with implementing a regional monitoring program are discussed, includingharmonizing data from various monitoring programs for reporting to the GMP