Studies of possible absorption of a flame retardant from treated fabrics worn by rats and humans

An investigation was made of the possible migration of a flame retardant, tris (2,3-dibromopropyl) phosphate (TBPP), commercially used in childrens sleepwear, to the skin of rats and humans and subsequent absorption. When the pure chemical was applied directly to the shaved skin of a rat, the hydrolysis product, 2,3-dibromopropanol (DBP), appeared in the urine. The 10,000 X g supernatant fraction of rat liver hydrolyzed TBPP to DBP. When TBPP-finished fabrics were worn by a rat, an adult male and a 5-year-old boy for up to 9 days, DBP was not detected in the urine.