Estimation of human exposure to halogenated flame retardants through dermal adsorption by skin wipe

This study was undertaken to determine levels of halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) on skin surface to provide preliminary exposure estimates from dermal absorption. Skin wipes of palms, back-of-hands, and forearms were collected from 30 participants by using gauze pads soaked in isopropyl alcohol. Eight polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), two novel brominated FRs, and two Dechlorane Plus (DPs) isomers were determined. BDE209, Decabromodiphenylethane (DBDPE), and 1, 2-Bis (2, 4, 6-tribromophenoxy) ethane (BTBPE) were most frequently detected. BDE209 showed the highest median level (1760 ng m−2), followed by DBDPE (277 ng m−2) and anti-DP (64 ng m−2). The comparison of levels on palms and back-of-hands revealed no statistical differences, but both were significantly higher than the levels on forearms. Detections of HFRs on arms suggested that skin areas covered by clothing were exposed to these chemicals likewise. BDE209 and DPs levels from three repeated samples showed moderate to strong reliability over 3 months, while the levels of other compounds were not statistically reliable. Males had significant higher levels than females for most HFRs, while participants' age, time from last hand washing to sampling, and other behaviors contributed limitedly to the variations in levels. Daily uptakes of HFRs through dermal absorption were estimated. The estimated median total exposure from palms, back-of-hands, and forearms were 25.9, 1.6, and 7.2 ng d−1 for ∑PBDEs, ∑DPs, and ∑NBFRs, respectively, which were in the same ranges as those from diet and dust ingestion for adults in China, suggesting that dermal absorption would be an important exposure route for HFRs.