The analytical conditions required to determine polybrominated diphenylethers (
PBDEs) and a variety of other halogenated
flame retardants (
HFRs) by gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) in environmental samples are reported. HRMS can be used to analyze brominated diphenylethers (BDEs),
2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexabromobiphenyl (BB-153) as well as for a number of other emerging
HFRs like
allyl 2,4,6-tribromophenyl ether (ATE), 2-bromoallyl 2,4,6-tribromophenyl
ether (BATE), 2,3-dibromopropyl 2,4,6-tribromophenyl
ether (DPTE), octabromotrimethylphenylindane (OBIND), pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB),
hexabromobenzene (HBB), 1,2-bis (2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)
ethane (BTBPE), decabromodiphenylethane (DBDPE),
Dechlorane Plus (DP),
hexachlorocyclopentadienyl-dibromocyclooctane (HCDBCO), tetrabromoethylcyclohexane (TBECH), 1,2,5,6-tetrabromocylcooctane (TBCO), 2-ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (EHTeBB), and bis(2-ethly-1-hexyl)tetrabromophthalate (BEHTBP). The detection in environmental matrices and use of these non-BDE
flame retardants is reviewed. A method for the analysis of
PBDEs by
isotope dilution HRMS and 16 other halogenated compounds primarily used as
flame retardants is reported. A survey of selected environmental samples, which included Lake Ontario surface and tributary sediments, municipal
wastewater effluent, sludge, and mussel tissues, detected
PBDEs, DP, DBDPE, BTBPE, PBEB, BB-153, and HBB.