Flame retardants in the indoor environment. Part II

Organophosphate esters, halogenated and non-halogenated, are frequently used for fire protection of building materials. With regard to toxicological profiles it is desired to avoid human exposure in the indoor environment. Moreover, some hazardous VOCs detected in indoor air are directly linked to the utilization of flame retardants. In this study different polyurethane products for building and indoor use treated with organophosphate flame retardants were tested in 1 m3 emission test chambers. Emissions of flame retardants and degradation products were measured under living conditions. A polyurethane hard foam sample showed area specific emissions rates > 100 µg/m²h for the compound triethyl.