| Summary: | Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are a global environmental concern, having long been identified as harmful substances due to their toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation in humans and wildlife. The commercial mixtures Penta-BDE and Octa-BDE have been banned in the European Union because of their toxic effects. Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) are brominated aliphatic cyclic hydrocarbons used in building materials, upholstery textiles, and electronics. The aim of this thesis was to assess concentrations of brominated flame retardants (BFRs), including specifically polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs): IUPAC congener numbers BDE-28, -47, -66, -85, -99, -100, -153, -154, -183, hexabromocyclododecane (α-, β-, γ- HBCD), novel brominated flames retardants such as BTBPE, PBBZ, HBB, PBEB, PBT, TBECH (α, β) and Dechlorane Plus isomers (anti and syn) in dust samples from different indoor environments at Spanish Antarctic research station of Gabriel de Castilla, the Chilean Antarctic research station of Prof. Julio Escudero and the British RRS James Clark Ross research vessel. The mean concentrations of ∑9PBDEs were 41.5 ± 43.8 ng/g in Gabriel de Castilla, 27.2 ± 37.9 ng/g in RSS James Clark Ross and 18.7 ± 14.2 ng/g in Prof. Julio Escudero. The Gabriel de Castilla research station reported a total ∑9PBDEs concentration of 301 ng/g. BDE-183 was detected with the highest concentrations of 69, 24 and 18 ng/g in Lab 2, Bedroom 1 and the Living room, respectively. The Prof. Julio Escudero research station reported a total ∑9PBDEs concentration of 83 ng/g and its highest levels of PBDEs were detected in the Meeting room with 18 ng/g (BDE-99) and 14 ng/g (BDE-47). RSS James Clark Ross reported a total ∑9 PBDEs concentration of 165 ng/g, while the highest concentration of BDE-153 was detected in the Sample storage room with 59 ng/g, followed by the Computer room with 15 ng/g. The mean concentration of ∑HBCD was highest in RRS James Clark Ross (761 ± 1043 ng/g) followed by Gabriel de Castilla (257 ± 407 ng/g) and Prof. ...
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