Functional Group-Dependent Screening of Organophosphate Esters (OPEs) and Discovery of an Abundant OPE Bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-phenyl Phosphate in Indoor Dust

There is increasing scientific interest in environmental pollution and the effect on public health caused by organophosphate esters (OPEs). Using liquid chromatography coupled to a hybrid quadrupole Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometer, a novel, robust, and untargeted screening strategy for the identification of novel OPEs in indoor dust samples was presently developed based on the characteristic molecular fragmentation pathways, and 12 previously reported OPEs and six previously unrecognized OPEs were detected in the combined extracts of indoor dust samples, collected in Nanjing, eastern China. One of the six detected OPEs, bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-phenyl phosphate (BEHPP), was identified by comparison of unique LC and MS characteristics with a synthesized pure standard. Accurate concentrations of BEHPP were determined in n = 50 individual indoor dust samples with 100% detection frequency with a median concentration range of 50–1530 ng/g dry weight, which were generally greater or at least comparable to traditional OPEs, that is, triphenyl phosphate and 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPP), in the same dust samples. Statistically significant, positive correlations were found for log-transformed concentrations of BEHPP versus EHDPP (r2 = 0.7884, p < 0.0001), and BEHPP versus tris(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate (r2 = 0.4054, p < 0.0001), suggesting their similar commercial applications and sources in the environment.