Characteristics of TCPP emission from upholstered furniture in offices
Résumé
Tris(ChloroPropyl)Phosphate (TCPP) is a flame retardant currently used in upholstered
furniture. This study provides the results of a follow up of TCPP concentrations in indoor air
and at the surface of indoor materials in two offices after introduction of fireproof upholstered
furniture (cushions made of PUR foam containing TCPP). An emission cell coupled to solid-
phase microextraction sampling was used for direct measurement of gaseous TCPP
concentration at the surface of the source material. Indoor TCPP concentrations reached high
levels from 400 to 880 ng.m -3 in correlation with gaseous concentrations measured at the
surface of source materials (cushions) ranging from 5.5 to 17.7 µg.m -3 . The changes in these
concentrations showed no decreasing trend over more than 220 days and were mainly
governed by the influence of temperature on the emission process. By applying the Clausius-
Clapeyron equation, it was shown that the emission is close to vaporization of pure liquid
TCPP. A model taking into account only the processes of emission/diffusion of compound in
air and its removal by ventilation provided an acceptable prediction. Exposure by inhalation
of occupants to TCPP in two offices were assessed to be 2933 ng.day -1 (with median level)
and 4692 ng.day -1 (with maximum level).