The concentrations of phthalates in settled dust in Bulgarian homes in relation to building characteristic and cleaning habits in the family (original) (raw)
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Concentrations of Selected Phthalate Esters in Surface Dust in Omani Houses
International Journal of Environmental Science and Development
People stay most of the time indoor in humid climatic countries. Since synthetic materials especially plastics occupies our living rooms, indoor-accumulated dust is a health concern. Indoor surface dust samples were collected from living room of households in the city of Muscat, Oman. Samples were analyzed to identify 6 different species of phthalates using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Total phthalates concentration ranged from 0.01 to 1864.58 µg/g. Din -octyl phthalate (DNOP) was the predominant species contributing to more than 80% of the identified phthalates followed by din -butyl phthalate (DnBP) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). The presence of high concentration of DNOP in surface dust samples probably may reflect the carpet usage in Omani houses. The species of phthalates reported in this study are not comparable to those from studies conducted in other countries.
The distribution of phthalate esters in indoor dust of Palermo (Italy)
Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 2013
In this work, phthalic acid esters (PAEs): dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate, benzyl butyl phthalate, bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, and di-n-octyl phthalate in indoor dust (used as passive sampler) were investigated. The settled dust samples were collected from thirteen indoor environments from Palermo city. A fast and simple method using Soxhlet and GC-MS analysis has been optimized to identify and quantify the phthalates. Total phthalates concentrations in indoor dusts ranged from 269 to 4,831 mg/kg d.w. (d.w. = dry weight). The data show a linear correlation between total PAEs concentration and a single compound content, with the exclusion of the two most volatile components (DMP and DEP) that are present in appreciable amounts only in two samples. These results suggest that most of the PAEs identified in the samples of settled dust originate from the same type of material. This evidence indicates that, in a specific indoor environment, generally is not present only one compound but a mixture having over time comparable percentages of PAEs. Consequently, for routine analyses of a specific indoor environment, only a smaller number of compounds could be determined to value the contamination of that environment. We also note differences in phthalate concentrations between buildings from different construction periods; the total concentration of PAEs was higher in ancient homes compared to those constructed later. This is due to a trend to reduce or remove certain hazardous compounds from building materials and consumer goods. A linear correlation between total PAEs concentration and age of the building was observed (R = 0.71).
Phthalate and PAH concentrations in dust collected from Danish homes and daycare centers
Atmospheric Environment, 2010
As part of the Danish Indoor Environment and Children's Health (IECH) study, dust samples were collected from 500 bedrooms and 151 daycare centers of children (ages 3 to 5) living on the island of Fyn. The present paper reports results from the analyses of these samples for five phthalate esters (diethyl phthalate (DEP), di(n-butyl) phthalate (DnBP), di(isobutyl) phthalate (DiBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)) and three PAHs (pyrene, benz[a]anthracene (B[a]A) and benzo [a]pyrene (B[a]P)). The three PAHs and DEHP were detected in dust samples from all sites, while DEP, DnBP, DiBP and BBzP were detected in more than 75% of the bedrooms and more than 90% of the daycare centers. The dust mass-fractions of both phthalates and PAHs were log-normally distributed. With the exception of DEP, the mass-fractions of phthalates in dust were higher in daycare centers than homes; PAH mass-fractions in dust were similar in the two locations. There was no correlation among the different phthalates in either homes or daycare centers. In contrast, the PAH were correlated with one another e more strongly so in homes (R 2 ¼ 0.80e0.90) than in daycare centers (R 2 ¼ 0.28e0.45). The dust levels of several phthalates (BBzP, DnBP and DEHP) were substantially lower than those measured in a comparable study conducted 6e7 years earlier in Sweden. Although usage patterns in Denmark differ from those in Sweden, the current results may also reflect a change in the plasticizers that are used in common products including toys. PAH levels were roughly an order of magnitude lower than those measured in Berlin and Cape Cod residences, suggesting that the Danish sites are less impacted by motor vehicle emissions.
Microchemical Journal, 2017
This study reports levels and profiles of phthalates in dust samples collected from three different microenvironments (cars, air conditioner (AC) filters and household floor dust) of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Kuwait. To the best of our knowledge, this is a very first study in the literature reporting phthalates in the indoor environments of KSA, which makes these findings very important. Our results showed that bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), din -butyl phthalate (DBP), di-isobutyl phthalate (DIBP), and din -octyl phthalate (DNOP) were the major chemicals in all dust samples. DEHP was the overwhelming compound in all microenvironments occurred at median concentrations (μg/g) of 1020, 1250, and 790 in Saudi household floor, car, and AC filter dust, respectively. The median levels (μg/g) of DEHP in Kuwaiti car (320) and household floor (240) dust samples were 3-4 times lower than respective Saudi dust. Phthalates were higher in car dust than household dust and Ac filter dust, suggesting people spending more time in vehicles are at higher risk of exposure to these chemicals. Different exposure scenarios, using 5th percentile, median, mean, and 95th percentile levels, were estimated for adults and toddlers. For Saudi and Kuwaiti toddlers worst exposure scenario for DEHP, a cardiotoxic and endocrine disruptor, was calculated at 37630 and 6722 ng/kg body weight/day (ng/kg bw/d), respectively. This preliminary study provided first-hand baseline data of Phthalates from Gulf countries and which necessitate more detailed future studies in this region. Practical implications: The first study on the incidence of phthalates from different micro-environments of KSA. High levels of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were present in Kuwaiti and KSA indoor micro-environments suggesting a high use of DEHP in consumer products. Exposure to phthalates via dust ingestion is estimated high in Saudi toddlers, which is a cause of concern.
Phthalates in indoor dust in Kuwait: implications for non-dietary human exposure
Indoor Air, 2013
Phthalates are semivolatile organic compounds with a ubiquitous environmental distribution. Their presence in indoor environments is linked to their use in a variety of consumer products such as children's toys, cosmetics, food packaging, flexible PVC flooring among others. The goal of this study was to investigate the occurrence and concentration of phthalates in dust from homes in Kuwait and to assess non-dietary human exposure to these phthalates. Dust samples were randomly collected from 21 homes and analyzed for eight phthalates. The concentrations of total phthalates were log normally distributed and ranged from 470 to 7800 lg/g. Five phthalates [Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), Di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP), Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), Benzyl butyl phthalate (BzBP), and Dicyclohexyl phthalate (DcHP)] were routinely detected. The major phthalate compound was DEHP at a geometric mean concentration of 1704 lg/g (median, 2256 lg/g) accounting for 92% of the total phthalates measured. Using the measured concentrations and estimates of dust ingestion rates for children and adults, estimated human non-dietary exposure based on median phthalate concentrations ranged from 938 ng/kg-bd/day for adults to 13362 ng/kg-bd/day for toddlers. The difference in exposure estimates between children and adults in this study supports previous reports that children are at greater risk from pollutants that accumulate indoors.
Environmental Science & Technology, 2011
Phthalates are used as plasticizers in numerous consumer products and building materials. Several million tons of phthalates are produced worldwide every year for the production of soft polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and other plastics. As a consequence, phthalates are present in the indoor environment and in food. Studies have shown that humans are exposed to phthalates on a daily basis. 1À4 Exposure of humans to phthalates occurs via inhalation, dermal absorption, and dietary intake. A scenariobased exposure model used for the assessment of sources of phthalate exposure among Europeans showed that dermal application of consumer products dominated the sources of exposure to dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), and benzyl butyl phthalate (BzBP), whereas dietary intake was the major source of exposure to di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), di-iso-butyl phthalate (DIBP), and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). 5 In a study of the general population in Japan, dietary intake and inhalation accounted for less than 50% of the total daily exposure to DMP, DEP, and DBP, whereas dietary intake was the dominant source of exposure to BzBP and DEHP. 6 Application of exposure models for the evaluation of sources of phthalate exposures yielded variable results. 7 In general, earlier studies 5À7 indicated that the sources of human exposure to phthalates vary, depending on the geographic area and the type of phthalate ester.
The Association between Phthalates in Dust and Allergic Diseases among Bulgarian Children
Environmental Health Perspectives, 2007
BACKGROUND: Recent studies have identified associations between the concentration of phthalates in indoor dust and allergic symptoms in the airways, nose, and skin. OBJECTIVES: Our goal was to investigate the associations between allergic symptoms in children and the concentration of phthalate esters in settled dust collected from children's homes in Sofia and Burgas, Bulgaria. METHODS: Dust samples from the child's bedroom were collected. A total of 102 children (2-7 years of age) had symptoms of wheezing, rhinitis, and/or eczema in preceding 12 months (cases), and 82 were nonsymptomatic (controls). The dust samples were analyzed for their content of dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP). RESULTS: A higher concentration of DEHP was found in homes of case children than in those of controls (1.24 vs. 0.86 mg/g dust). The concentration of DEHP was significantly associated with wheezing in the preceding 12 months (p = 0.035) as reported by parents. We found a dose-response relationship between DEHP concentration and case status and between DEHP concentration and wheezing in the preceding 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows an association between concentration of DEHP in indoor dust and wheezing among preschool children in Bulgaria.
Determination of phthalates in particulate matter and gaseous phase emitted in indoor air of offices
Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Phthalate esters (PAEs) are endocrine disrupters and can disrupt the functioning of different hormones, causing adverse effects on human health. Due to the potential exposure to phthalates in office rooms, their concentrations in the air of these premises after their renovation and furnishing were determined. The aim of the study was to determine the content of these compounds in the gas phase and adsorbed on the particles. Thus, the combined sampler with filters and adsorption tube was used for air sampling. Samples were analyzed by GC-MS. The gas fraction was dominated by dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), and the inhalable fraction by dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and 2-(diethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). The total concentration of phthalates in the respirable fraction in the furnished rooms was as much as 92% of the phthalates determined in the inhalable fraction. In the rooms immediately after renovation and those arranged and used by employees for 7 months, their concen...
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 2011
Twenty-two phthalate diesters and organophosphate triesters have been determined in Standard Reference Material (SRM) 2585 Organic Contaminants in House Dust. Ultrasonic assisted solvent extraction and Solid Phase Extraction on a Florisil adsorbent were used as clean-up combined with analysis using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in positive ion chemical ionization mode. Seven phthalates were detected in the concentration range 1-570 µg/g. Diethylhexyl phthalate was the major phthalate with a concentration of 570 µg/g dust. Twelve organophosphates were detected in the SRM 2585. Tri(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate was the dominating phosphate with a concentration of 82 µg/g and nine phosphates with concentrations around 1 µg/g dust. Three phosphates were detected but were below LOQ and three were below a MDL of 0.001 µg/g. The applied extraction and clean-up method was evaluated for the analysis of SRM 2585. Extraction yield was ≥ 99%, except for TCEP (97%) and DEP (98,5 %). The problem of calibration curvature is addressed, and it is shown how to improve the analysis by using deuterated standards. To our knowledge this is the first report of the concentrations of phthalates esters in SRM 2585 House Dust as well as the determination of as many as fourteen organophosphate triesters.