Associations between phthalic acid esters in house dust and home characteristics/living habits in a rural region of Taiwan

Levels, sources, and health risk assessment of phthalate acid esters in indoor dust of various microenvironments in university

Phthalate acid esters (PAEs), as a common group of plasticizers, are widely present in indoor environments and pose a risk to human health. Indoor dust samples collected from dormitory, classroom, laboratory, and office in several universities in China, were analyzed for seven types of PAEs. The total concentrations of seven PAEs (Σ7PAEs) ranged from 4.87 to 360 μg/g, with a median concentration of 51 μg/g, which is lower than that reported by other studies. Using the median concentration of Σ7PAEs as a metric, we assessed the levels of contamination in different microenvironments, resulting in the following ranking: dormitory > classroom > laboratory > office. There are significant differences in the levels of individual PAEs in different microenvironments. Radiation from sunlight, ventilation rates, cleaning frequency, and sprays were influential factors for the concentrations of individual PAEs in indoor dust. The indoor environmental conditions and consumption patterns profoundly affect PAEs levels. The sources of PAEs in classroom and office were more complex than in dormitory and laboratory. Daily intakes of PAEs were used to calculate carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic human risk for males and females, indicating a low health risk to humans. This is the first study to assess the risk of PAEs in university microenvironments and provides a valuable reference for further research.

Dust-phase phthalates in university dormitories in Beijing, China: pollution characteristics, potential sources, and non-dietary oral exposure

This study aimed to determine dust-phase phthalate levels in 112 dormitories of 14 universities during autumn and winter, investigate their potential sources, and estimate phthalate exposure via dust ingestion. Twelve phthalates were detected, among which di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP) were the most abundant, followed by di-isobutyl phthalate (DiBP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP). The median concentrations and contributions of DCHP and DEHP were the highest. The contributions of di-n-octyl phthalate and di-nonyl phthalate were higher in winter than in autumn. Potential sources included iron furniture, chemical fiber textiles, clothes, and personal care products. Medium-density fiberboard furniture is a potential sink for phthalates. In two seasons, DEHP, DCHP, DiBP, and DnBP were the main phthalates ingested by college students . The median oral exposure of ten phthalates was higher in females than in males. College students have a high risk of exposure to DEHP in dormitories.

Phthalates in glass window films are associated with dormitory characteristics, occupancy activities and habits, and environmental factors

Phthalates are environmental endocrine disruptors that enter the human body through a variety of pathways and harm human health. The study aimed to explore the associations between phthalate concentrations in glass window films with dormitory characteristics, occupancy activities and habits, and environmental factors, of university dormitories. We surveyed these associations and measured the indoor environmental parameters of 144 dormitories from 13 universities in Beijing. Based on the results, we further explored the factors affecting phthalate concentrations using multivariate logistic regression. The results showed that phthalate concentrations in glass window films were associated with dormitory type, duration of occupancy, daily ventilation duration, window cleaning frequency, indoor relative humidity, light intensity, temperature, and particulate matter (PM₁₀) concentration. To date, there have only been a few studies on the factors that influence phthalate concentrations in glass window films; therefore, further study is needed. Our findings determined the influence of external factors on the different types of phthalates in window films, which helps understand indoor phthalate pollution and evaluate human exposure based on phthalate concentrations in glass window films.

Phthalates in Glass Window Films of Chinese University Dormitories and Their Associations with Indoor Decorating Materials and Personal Care Products

Phthalates are widely used as plasticizers in the production of various consumer products used daily. We analyzed phthalate concentrations in window film samples from 144 dormitories in 13 universities and combined them with the results of questionnaires to explore the associations of phthalate concentrations with indoor decorating materials and personal care products. The phthalate pollution levels discovered in this study were much higher than those in previous studies of baby rooms and university buildings. Moreover, it was found that phthalate concentrations in glass window films were associated with laminated wood or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) flooring, iron furniture, medium density fiberboard (MDF) furniture, and the usage frequency of bottled skincare products. Laminated wood or PVC flooring, wallpaper, and iron furniture are very likely sources of specific phthalates, and the large surface areas of MDF furniture can act as sinks of phthalates. Transport of phthalates from the packaging of bottled skincare products into cosmetics should be given more attention. Our results provide a deep understanding of the sources of phthalates in glass window films.

Status of resource recycling stations in Taiwan and recycling work-related health effects

Resource recycling has become an integral part of environmental protection efforts. At present, the development of Taiwan's resource recovery and related works are quite mature. However, laborers or volunteers working in resource recycling stations may be exposed to different types of hazards during the recycling process. These hazards can be divided into biological, chemical, and musculoskeletal problems. These hazards are usually related to the work environment and work habits; therefore, a related control strategy is needed. Tzu Chi's recycling business has been running for over 30 years. In addition to leading the trend of resource recycling in Taiwan, many elderly people have also participated in Tzu Chi recycling stations as volunteers. These older volunteers may be more sensitive to exposure to hazards, and thus the focus of this review is to illustrate the possible hazards and health impacts of resource recovery work and to recommend relevant interventions to improve occupational health during resource recovery work.