Project highlights

  • The UK Furniture Fire Safety Regulations 1988 results in excessive use of flame retardants.
  • Human exposure and risk arising from such exposure will be assessed.
  • Innovative application of silicon wristbands to assess occupational and personal exposure.

Overview

Consumer products, such as upholstered furniture, are treated with a “cocktail” of chemicals including flame retardants to meet the fire safety specifications. Unlike EU, USA, Australia and New Zealand, the UK Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulation 1988 mandates the use of an open flame test, also known as “match test”, to test the fire safety of cover fabrics over inflammable foam. However, inflammable foam can no longer be used in furniture. To meet this “unique” test, most UK furniture manufacturers apply large volumes of chemical flame retardants to make both the foams and the cover fabrics in furniture fire resistant. There is a growing body of research linking flame retardants to a range of adverse effects to the environment and humans, including: persistence, bioaccumulation and toxic implications (e.g. endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity, and cancer).

Current evidence suggest the UK have some of the highest flame retardant concentrations in indoor dust and human tissues including breast milk. Several studies have suggested such high concentrations may be attributed to the excessive use of flame retardants in UK furniture. To date, there is no comprehensive study to assess the extent of exposure to flame retardants in UK furniture and the risk arising from such exposure.

The present study will use the innovative silicon wristbands as personal passive samplers to measure the occupational exposure of upholstery workers to flame retardants and compare it to that of the general (non-occupationally exposed) UK population (control group). The risk arising from such exposure (in both groups) will be assessed and compared to that in other countries with different fire safety regulations (e.g. EU, USA and Australia). This study will provide the required information to advice policy on the measures required to revise the 1988 Furniture Fire Safety Regulation to protect public health and the environment.

Labelled upholstered furniture showing the sign for “match test” a sign consisting green square with a black smoking object and a match
Figure 1: Labelled upholstered furniture showing the sign for “match test”.

Host

University of Birmingham

Supervisors

Project investigator

Dr. Mohamed Abdallah, University of Birmingham ([email protected])

Co-investigators

Prof. Stuart Harrad, University of Birmingham ([email protected])

How to apply

Methodology

Consumer products, such as upholstered furniture, are treated with a “cocktail” of chemicals including flame retardants to meet the fire safety specifications. Unlike EU, USA, Australia and New Zealand, the UK Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulation 1988 mandates the use of an open flame test, also known as “match test”, to test the fire safety of cover fabrics over inflammable foam. However, inflammable foam can no longer be used in furniture. To meet this “unique” test, most UK furniture manufacturers apply large volumes of chemical flame retardants to make both the foams and the cover fabrics in furniture fire resistant. There is a growing body of research linking flame retardants to a range of adverse effects to the environment and humans, including: persistence, bioaccumulation and toxic implications (e.g. endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity, and cancer).

Current evidence suggest the UK have some of the highest flame retardant concentrations in indoor dust and human tissues including breast milk. Several studies have suggested such high concentrations may be attributed to the excessive use of flame retardants in UK furniture. To date, there is no comprehensive study to assess the extent of exposure to flame retardants in UK furniture and the risk arising from such exposure.

The present study will use the innovative silicon wristbands as personal passive samplers to measure the occupational exposure of upholstery workers to flame retardants and compare it to that of the general (non-occupationally exposed) UK population (control group). The risk arising from such exposure (in both groups) will be assessed and compared to that in other countries with different fire safety regulations (e.g. EU, USA and Australia). This study will provide the required information to advice policy on the measures required to revise the 1988 Furniture Fire Safety Regulation to protect public health and the environment.

Training and skills

Students will be awarded CENTA2 Training Credits (CTCs) for participation in CENTA2-provided and ‘free choice’ external training. One CTC equates to 1⁄2 day session and students must accrue 100 CTCs across the three years of their PhD.

The project has a strong multidisciplinary component, combining aspects of analytical science, environmental chemistry, as well as exposure and risk assessment. Consequently, subject-specific training will be offered in each of these areas. It will comprise a mix of appropriate postgraduate level training (e.g. Pollution Management and Control, Environmental Analysis, Exposure Modelling, and Risk Assessment of Hazardous Chemicals). There will also be “hands-on” training on the analysis of flame retardants using advanced mass spectrometry techniques.

Partners and collaboration

The project manifests a new collaboration between Abdallah and the POPs research group at UoB and the UK Guild of Upholsterers (represented by Delyth Fetherston-Dilke), which grants the access and participation of UK Upholsterers in the study. We envisage additional collaboration with potential CASE partners such as the Environment Agency, UK HSE and other stakeholders with interest in characterising and assessing risks of excessive use of FRs in UK furniture.

Further details

If you wish to apply to the project, applications should include:

  • A CV with the names of at least two referees (preferably three and who can comment on your academic abilities)
  • Submit your application and complete the host institution application process via: https://sits.bham.ac.uk/lpages/LES068.htm. and go to Apply Now in the PhD Geography and Environmental Science (CENTA) section. Please quote CENTA23_B20 when completing the application form.

Applications to be received by the end of the day on Wednesday 11th January 2023. 

Additional information for international applicants

  • All international applicants must ensure they can fulfil the University of Birmingham’s international student entry requirements, which includes English language requirements.  For further information please visit https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/pgt/requirements-pgt/international/index.aspx.
  • Please be aware that CENTA funding will only cover University fees at the level of support for Home-fee eligible students.  The University is only able to waive the difference on the international fee level for a maximum of two successful international applicants.

Possible timeline

Year 1

Literature review – Ethical Approval – Sampling campaign design (questionnaires, information letter and consent form)- Start sampling

Year 2

Laboratory training – Continue Sampling – Sample and Data Analysis – Writing research paper

Year 3

Sample and Data Analysis – Exposure and Risk Assessment – Writing paper and thesis chapters – present results at International Conference.

Year 4: Completion of thesis and writing of papers.

Further reading

  • MCKENNA, S. T., BIRTLES, R., DICKENS, K., WALKER, R. G., SPEARPOINT, M. J., STEC, A. A. & HULL, T. R. 2018. Flame retardants in UK furniture increase smoke toxicity more than they reduce fire growth rate. Chemosphere, 196, 429-439.
  • TAO, F., ABDALLAH, M. A., ASHWORTH, D. C., DOUGLAS, P., TOLEDANO, M. B. & HARRAD, S. 2017. Emerging and legacy flame retardants in UK human milk and food suggest slow response to restrictions on use of PBDEs and HBCDD. Environment International, 105, 95-104.
  • HAMMEL, S. C., HOFFMAN, K., WEBSTER, T. F., ANDERSON, K. A. & STAPLETON, H. M. 2016. Measuring Personal Exposure to Organophosphate Flame Retardants Using Silicone Wristbands and Hand Wipes. Environmental Science & Technology, 50, 4483-4491.
  • AL-OMRAN, L. S., HARRAD, S. & ABOU-ELWAFA ABDALLAH, M. 2021. A meta-analysis of factors influencing concentrations of brominated flame retardants and organophosphate esters in indoor dust. Environmental Pollution, 285, 117262.
  • ABDALLAH, M. A. & HARRAD, S. 2014. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in UK human milk: Implications for infant exposure and relationship to external exposure. Environment International, 63, 130-136.

COVID-19

This project would be impacted by a respiratory pandemic through the restriction of sampling and sample analysis activity. This could be mitigated by expanding the analysis of existing samples to cover a broad range of chemicals using non-target screening approaches. The control group can be switched to a “sample of convenience” to facilitate collection as possible. Data analysis, exposure and risk assessment, as well as write up of the project outcomes can all be completed remotely, if work from home restrictions are applied.