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Young AS, Hauser R, James-Todd TM, Coull BA, Zhu H, Kannan K, Specht AJ, Bliss MS, Allen JG. Impact of "healthier" materials interventions on dust concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and organophosphate esters. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 150:106151. [PMID: 33092866 PMCID: PMC7940547 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and organophosphate esters (OPEs) are found in building materials and associated with thyroid disease, infertility, and impaired development. This study's objectives were to (1) compare levels of PFAS, PBDEs, and OPEs in dust from spaces with conventional versus "healthier" furniture and carpet, and (2) identify other product sources of flame retardants in situ. We measured 15 PFAS, 8 PBDEs, and 19 OPEs in dust from offices, common areas, and classrooms having undergone either no intervention (conventional rooms in older buildings meeting strict fire codes; n = 12), full "healthier" materials interventions (rooms with "healthier" materials in buildings constructed more recently or gut-renovated; n = 7), or partial interventions (other rooms with at least "healthier" foam furniture but more potential building contamination; n = 28). We also scanned all materials for bromine and phosphorus as surrogates of PBDEs and OPEs respectively, using x-ray fluorescence. In multilevel regression models, rooms with full "healthier" materials interventions had 78% lower dust levels of PFAS than rooms with no intervention (p < 0.01). Rooms with full "healthier" interventions also had 65% lower OPE levels in dust than rooms with no intervention (p < 0.01) and 45% lower PBDEs than rooms with only partial interventions (p < 0.10), adjusted for covariates related to insulation, electronics, and furniture. Bromine loadings from electronics in rooms were associated with PBDE concentrations in dust (p < 0.05), and the presence of exposed insulation was associated with OPE dust concentrations (p < 0.001). Full "healthier" materials renovations successfully reduced chemical classes in dust. Future interventions should address electronics, insulation, and building cross-contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna S Young
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Population Health Sciences, Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Russ Hauser
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tamarra M James-Todd
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brent A Coull
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hongkai Zhu
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kurunthachalam Kannan
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Aaron J Specht
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maya S Bliss
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph G Allen
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Goodman D, Arisco N, Jaacks LM. Synthetic Chemical Trade as a Potential Driver of Global Health Disparities and Data Gaps on Synthetic Chemicals in Vulnerable Populations. Curr Environ Health Rep 2020; 7:1-12. [PMID: 32006347 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-020-00261-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Most research on toxic exposures in vulnerable populations focuses on air pollution. Synthetic chemical production, however, is a multi-billion-dollar industry that lacks appropriate international regulation to protect those exposed to toxic chemicals. This paper aims to describe the country-level import and export of key groups of synthetic chemicals using data from the United Nations Comtrade Database and provide a narrative review of the evidence from January 2018 to August 2019 on exposure to, health effects of, and interventions to reduce synthetic chemicals in vulnerable populations around the world. RECENT FINDINGS Generally, a small number of high-income countries export the majority of synthetic chemicals, while most low-income countries import more chemicals than they export, which may contribute to higher levels of synthetic chemicals in those settings. However, few studies have quantified exposures to synthetic chemicals in low- and middle-income countries, the health effects of such exposures, or interventions to mitigate exposures. Synthetic chemicals continue to enter markets despite our limited knowledge of their effects on human health, particularly in the most vulnerable populations. We need more research to understand the health impacts of these pervasive exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina Goodman
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Building 1, Room 1211, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Nicholas Arisco
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Building 1, Room 1211, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Lindsay M Jaacks
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Building 1, Room 1211, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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