INTERFLAME · Synergising INTERnational Studies of Environmental Contamination with Organic FLAME Retardant Chemicals

Synergising INTERnational Studies of Environmental Contamination with Organic FLAME Retardant Chemicals

The INTERFLAME IRSES project commenced on 1st January 2012 and ended on 31st December 2014. The overall vision of INTERFLAME was to enhance scientific understanding of how and to what extent organic flame retardant (FR) chemicals present in consumer goods and materials contaminate the environment, with particular reference to humans and wildlife. INTERFLAME’s twin foci are exposure arising from indoor contamination and monitoring the efficacy of recent actions designed to reduce environmental levels. It has the following research objectives: 1. To compile inventories of organic FR usage volumes and applications in participating countries 2. To explore the utility of forensic microscopy to understand pathways of brominated FR (BFR) migration from materials to dust 3. To harmonise techniques for sampling organic FRs in indoor air and studies of indoor air contamination 4. To harmonise techniques for sampling indoor dust and studies of indoor dust contamination 5. To exchange knowledge about analytical chemistry techniques for measuring organic FRs 6. To pool and interpret international monitoring data to facilitate better understanding of the contribution of indoor exposure to human body burdens 7. To co-ordinate international efforts to monitor accurately temporal trends in contamination of biota with organic FRs 8. To work collaboratively towards international complementarity in studies of the metabolism of BFRs Work Conducted: During INTERFLAME, a total of 72.35 EU-funded researcher months have been undertaken. An additional 17.44 researcher months were conducted where non-EU researchers were seconded to the EU, for which no EU funding was used. A project website was established in early 2012 and may be viewed at www.birmingham.ac.uk/interflame. There were 3 project workshops. The first was held at the University of Birmingham September 19th-21st 2012. The workshop laid plans for the achievement of the research objectives of INTERFLAME. The 2nd workshop was held at Tsinghua University, Beijing, China 1st-3rd September 2013. The final workshop was held in Toledo, Spain 28th-30th August 2014. Presentations from the workshops and related documents may be viewed on the News section of the project website. Main results achieved Research conducted within INTERFLAME has resulted in 12 publications in peer-reviewed journals with one currently under review. It is anticipated that more such publications (likely 5-10) will result over the next 12 months. INTERFLAME researchers also presented their results in several international conferences. Research highlights are: 1. Co-ordination of an interlaboratory comparison of analytical methods for the determination of concentration of selected organic flame retardant chemicals in environmental matrices (INTERFLAB). The results of this have been written up and submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Plans are already being made for a follow-up interlaboratory comparison. 2. The 1st systematic comparison of different methods for sampling indoor air and settled dust has been undertaken. 3. Significant advances in our understanding of the metabolism of selected BFRs. Some aspects of this have been published in a peer-reviewed journal, with further such publications in preparation. 4. Advances have been made which promote faster and more efficient determination of concentrations of BFRs in environmental samples. An aspect of this has been published in a peer-reviewed journal. 5. A review of temporal trends in environmental contamination with selected BFRs has been published in a peer-reviewed journal. 6. Experimental measurements have been made of the vapour pressures of selected organophosphorus flame retardants (PFRs). Results have been published in a peer-reviewed journal. INTERFLAME provides support to the EU’s position on the UNEP Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) as well as for policies such as: the Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution; the Thematic Strategy on Urban Environment; the Environment and Health Action Plan (EHAP) and the SCALE initiative. Combined, these programs address issues relevant to persistent organic contaminants such as FRs, recognize the importance of indoor air quality, and the need to monitor closely exposure of vulnerable groups like children. By its collaborations with key players in Australia, Canada, China, and Japan, INTERFLAME has allowed the European Research Area (ERA) to access expertise and knowledge that exists outside the EU via active collaboration, thereby maintaining the current position of strength. Moreover, the INTERFLAME project has facilitated research excellence within the ERA in the following ways: • INTERFLAME has increased the expertise and international collaborative links of its EU partners providing an enhanced, more competitive research platform from which to apply for collaborative funding after the lifetime of INTERFLAME. • INTERFLAME’s increased interactions with colleagues from different countries has spread best practice in research. Specifically, broadening research agendas and opportunities for scientific advancement, facilitating the cross-application of the most novel and appropriate techniques and the integration of approaches (e.g. sharing of equipment and facilities), and widening the context for future research collaborations. • Improved working relationships between INTERFLAME’s Participants has spread best practice to enhance research excellence and strengthen individual teams. • Cutting-edge developments in individual centres have been shared and exploited by Participants. • Researchers involved directly (via staff exchange) and indirectly (e.g. via contact with seconded staff) will be available for employment by teams within INTERFLAME, after the network has finished, thus enhancing further the research excellence of partners and also the potential for longer term collaborations. Examples to date are that one doctoral student from the Chinese partner (Tsinghua University) and one postdoctoral researcher from the Egyptian partner (Assiut University) has been recruited by the University of Birmingham, while one postdoctoral researcher from Birmingham has been recruited by the Australian partner (University of Queensland). These example recruitments illustrate the potential for INTERFLAME to play an invaluable role in the career development and international mobility of early career researchers and demonstrate to them the scientific value of international collaboration that they will carry with them throughout their research careers. Further Information More information about the INTERFLAME project may be found at www.birmingham.ac.uk/interflame You may also email the Co-ordinator Professor Stuart Harrad S.J.Harrad@bham.ac.uk

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