Brominated flame retardants in laboratory air

During the development of a method for determination of brominated flame retardants in human plasma and serum using solid-phase extraction, several brominated flame retardants were found in the procedural blanks. The contaminants originated most probably from the laboratory air. The brominated flame retardants were found to be adsorbed on glass surfaces and to be acquired using solid-phase sampling. 2,4,6-Tribromophenol, 2,2′,4,4′-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) and 2,2′,4,4′,5-pentabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-99) were the most abundant brominated flame retardants in our laboratory air, however, large differences in contamination with respect to sampling time and place were observed.