ABSTRACT
This chapter highlights the technical and methodological improvements in the analysis of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) with emphasis on the critical factors influencing their detection and accurate measurement. It also presents detailed information on quality assurance (QA) issues. The limited number of reference materials commercially available for the analysis of BFRs makes the task of their measurement even more difficult. Analytical methods for BFRs have shown a rapid development, and they were, in many cases, based on protocols previously established for persistent organic pollutants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry not only offers a reliable instrumental technique for accurate measurement of these compounds but also delivers important information for such flame retardants and helps to better explain their environmental behavior. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry methods for analysis of OH-Polybrominated diphenyl ethers metabolites must include a derivatization step with diazomethane, which needs to be handled with care due to its explosive characteristics.
