Kinetics Release of Melamine Phosphate from Polyurethane Foam: Implications for Human Exposure and Environmental Stability

Polyurethane (PU) foam, widely used in furniture and insulation, is often treated with Melamine Phosphate (MP) as a flame retardant. This study investigates the release kinetics of MP from PU foam under controlled thermal (25?90 C), UV (340nm, 1.25W/m?), and biological fluid exposure, using validated extraction method and HPLC-DAD analysis (linear range 0.20?500 ? g/mL). Results: revealed first-order release kinetics, with activation energies (?H*) of 6.62kJ/mol (MP-A) and 7.01kJ/mol (MP-B). Thermal aging at 90 ? C reduced MP retention to 21.8% (MP-A) and 22.9% (MP-B), while UV aging degraded 79.7% of MP-A and 77.6% of MP-B over 90 days. MP migration into biological fluids was significant: citric acid extracted 5.10 % wt/wt from MP unaged foam, increasing to 25.1% wt/wt after thermal aging. UV aging increased dermal transfer by tenfold (e.g., MP-A: 1.3% wt/wt to 13.1% wt/wt in water). MP exhibited slower thermal release but greater UV-driven degradation. These findings emphasize the need for aging-resistant flame retardant formulations and updated safety regulations to mitigate long-term exposure risks. This study advocates for the use of chemically immobilized additives and lifecycle-based regulatory standards, emphasizing critical trade-offs between environmental health and fire safety