Occurrence and distribution of organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) in soil and outdoor settled dust from a multi-waste recycling area in China

Abstract Distribution of 12 organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) was determined in soil and outdoor settled dust samples collected from a multi-waste (electronic, plastic, and rubber wastes and abandoned household-appliances and vehicles) recycling area, that encompassed different modes of operation i.e. open (ORS) and semi-closed recycling (SCRS). Among the twelve OPFRs analyzed, eleven were detected at a frequency of 75%–100% in all soil and dust samples. In soil samples, ΣOPFR concentrations were significantly higher at ORS (122–2100 ng/g) than at SCRS (58.5–316 ng/g) and nearby farmlands (37.7–156 ng/g). The ΣOPFR concentrations in dust samples were higher than those in soil samples with spatial distribution similar to that observed for soil, decreasing from ORS (1390–42,700 ng/g) to SCRS (914–7940 ng/g). Tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP) was the major OPFRs in both soil ( − 1  ng/kg bw/day for adults at ORS. Our results suggest that waste recycling is an important source of chlorinated- and aryl-OPFRs in the environment.