During the processing of polymer products, flame retardants are often added to achieve flammability resistance. Since they are not chemically bound to the materials, they can be easily released to the environment during the production, use, disposal, and recycling processes. With the ban of using legacy flame retardants, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), the industry has shifted to novel flame retardants, such as organophosphate esters (OPEs). However, these have the same problem as earlier flame retardants: some are relatively toxic and OPEs have be shown to be released into the environment by wastewater discharge, atmospheric disposition, or runoffs.<br/><br/>Honey is a natural sweetener product produced by honeybees. During the pollination process, honeybees travel long distances and are prone to be contaminated by chemicals in atmospheric air, and have them retained on their body surface or inhaled in their trachea. Especially for honeybees foraging in the urban area, research have shown they have a higher chance of exposing to chemicals in air, or from residue on flowers. Therefore, these flame retardants residues found from honey can be used as an indicator for the pollution status in a particular region, and hence provide insights on the risk to the consumers of honey produced in the urban region.<br/><br/>In this experiment, OPEs and novel brominated flame retards (NBFRs) were targeted in over 130 urban honey samples collected in Canada, analyzed by LC-QTOF. In addition, honey samples collected from rural areas were also analyzed to compare their flame retardant profile with urban honey, in order to assess any pollution gradient. Furthermore, non-targeted analysis would be applied to search for other flame retardants and related compounds. This research provides a novel angle on the occurrence of flame retardants in urban air.

Targeted and non-targeted screening of flame retardants in urban honey

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.