Organophosphate flame retardants in people living in Canada
Learn about human biomonitoring of organophosphate flame retardants in Canada.
On this page
- About organophosphate flame retardants
- Data sources for organophosphate flame retardant biomonitoring
- Results of organophosphate flame retardant biomonitoring
- Related links
- How to cite this web page
About organophosphate flame retardants
Organophosphate flame retardants are a group of human-made chemicals that are carbon based and contain phosphorus. They're used to help prevent items from catching on fire and to limit the spread of fire. Organophosphate flame retardants used in Canada include:
- tris(chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCPP)
- tris(1,3-dichloroisopropyl) phosphate (TDCPP)
TCPP and TDCPP are found in construction materials and manufactured items, such as mattresses and upholstered furniture, that contain flexible polyurethane foam.
People are exposed to TCPP and TDCPP by:
- eating foods (including human milk), drinking water, breathing air or swallowing dust contaminated with these chemicals
- skin contact when using products made with them, such as spray foam and foam-containing furniture and mattresses
Children may also be exposed from mouthing foam in toys or other products containing TCPP and TDCPP.
TCPP and TDCPP enter the bloodstream after exposure. They are rapidly broken down in the body to form other substances (metabolites), mainly:
- bis(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BCPP) (from TCPP)
- bis(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BDCPP) (from TDCPP)
BCPP and BDCPP are measured in a urine sample. The presence of BCPP and BDCPP in your urine reflects recent exposure to TCPP or TDCPP.
Potential health effects of TCPP and TDCPP
Studies in laboratory animals show that exposure to TCPP is associated with reproductive and developmental effects, including changes to organ and body weight. TDCPP may have harmful effects on the kidneys and testes. TCPP and TDCPP may cause cancer.
It's important to note that the presence of a substance in your body doesn't necessarily mean it will affect your health.
What we're doing to lower human exposures to TCPP and TDCPP
We have proposed that TCPP and TDCPP are toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. If they are declared toxic, we will consider taking actions to reduce exposure of people living in Canada to these substances from certain products made with foam.
Data sources for organophosphate flame retardant biomonitoring
This fact sheet presents human biomonitoring data from the:
- Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS)
- Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC)
You can access more results for organophosphate flame retardants in the Canadian population through the Canadian biomonitoring dashboard.
| Initiative | Collection period | Target population |
|---|---|---|
| CHMS | 2018 to 2019 | General Canadian population aged 3 to 79 living in the 10 provinces |
| MIREC | 2008 to 2011 | Pregnant people aged 18 and above from 10 cities across Canada |
We wish to acknowledge all participants, including Indigenous peoples, who took part in the biomonitoring studies.
Results of organophosphate flame retardant biomonitoring
Levels in the Canadian population
BCPP and BDCPP were included in the CHMS for the first time in the 2018 to 2019 collection period. The average level in urine of BCPP was 0.16 µg/L and the average level of BDCPP was 0.51 µg/L.
Figure 1: Levels in the Canadian population, by age group
Average levels of BCPP and BDCPP were higher in children and adolescents than in adults.
Text description
| Chemical | Age group (years) | Geometric mean level (µg/L) | 95% confidence interval (µg/L) |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCPP | 3 to 5 | 0.26 | 0.20–0.33 |
| BCPP | 6 to 11 | 0.20 | 0.15–0.28 |
| BCPP | 12 to 19 | 0.22 | 0.18–0.27 |
| BCPP | 20 to 39 | 0.15 | 0.12–0.19 |
| BCPP | 40 to 59 | 0.14 | 0.10–0.18 |
| BCPP | 60 to 79 | 0.16 | 0.13–0.21 |
| BDCPP | 3 to 5 | 0.93 | 0.61–1.3 |
| BDCPP | 6 to 11 | 0.94 | 0.10–1.3 |
| BDCPP | 12 to 19 | 0.84 | 0.63–1.1 |
| BDCPP | 20 to 39 | 0.48 | 0.32–0.70 |
| BDCPP | 40 to 59 | 0.45 | 0.38–0.55 |
| BDCPP | 60 to 79 | 0.39 | 0.31–0.50 |
Figure 2: Levels in the Canadian population, by sex
Average levels of BCPP were similar between sexes. Average levels of BDCPP were higher in males than in females.
Text description
| Chemical | Sex | Geometric mean level (µg/L) | 95% confidence interval (µg/L) |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCPP | Females | 0.14 | 0.12–0.16 |
| BCPP | Males | 0.18 | 0.14–0.24 |
| BDCPP | Females | 0.37 | 0.30–0.47 |
| BDCPP | Males | 0.70 | 0.55–0.89 |
Figure 3: Levels in pregnant people in Canada
Average levels of BCPP and BDCPP were lower in pregnant people in the MIREC study than in people of child-bearing age (females aged 18 to 49 years) in the CHMS.
Text description
| Chemical | Biomonitoring initiative | Geometric mean level (µg/L) | 95% confidence interval (µg/L) |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCPP | CHMS | 0.20 | 0.17–0.23 |
| BCPP | MIREC | 0.070 | 0.065–0.075 |
| BDCPP | CHMS | 0.48 | 0.38–0.60 |
| BDCPP | MIREC | 0.30 | 0.28–0.31 |
Related links
- Canadian biomonitoring dashboard
- Flame retardants
- TCPP and TDCPP
- Updated draft screening assessment: Certain organic flame retardants substance grouping, TCPP and TDCPP
- Certain organic flame retardants substance grouping
- Descriptive analysis of organophosphate ester metabolites in a pan-Canadian pregnancy cohort
How to cite this web page
Health Canada. 2024. Organophosphate flame retardants in people living in Canada. Ottawa, ON. Available: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/reports-publications/environmental-contaminants/human-biomonitoring-resources/organophosphate-flame-retardants-in-people.html
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