Characteristics and assessment of phthalate esters in urban dusts in Guangzhou city, China

Abstract

Phthalate esters (PAEs) were examined in indoor and outdoor dust samples from the subtropical city of Guangzhou, China. The ∑(16)PAEs concentrations ranged from 121 to 3,223 μg g(-1) dust, with the median concentration of 840 μg g(-1) dust. Significantly higher concentrations of PAEs in dust samples were found in offices where electrical and electronic devices, carpet pads, and office furniture were widely used. Of the 16 PAEs, diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) dominated the PAEs in indoor and outdoor dust samples, and accounted for >96.8% and >93.1% of the ∑(16)PAEs concentrations, respectively. The median daily inhalation exposure of ∑(16)PAEs were 3.53 and 0.247 μg kg(-1) body weight day(-1), and at the 95(th) percentile were 7.62 and 0.530 μg kg(-1) body weight day(-1), up on the measured concentrations and estimated dust ingestion rates, respectively, for toddles and adults. The ubiquitous distribution of PAEs as noted in this study suggests the need for detailed assessment of PAEs concentrations using more sites and to further investigate the factors influencing PAEs exposure in China.

The occurrence and ecological risk assessment of phthalate esters (PAEs) in urban aquatic environments of China

“…In China, the Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water (PRC-NS 2002) and Standards for Drinking Water Quality (PRCNS 2006) regulate the concentrations of two (DEHP, 8.00 lg/L and DBP, 3.00 lg/L) and three (DEHP, 8.00 lg/L, DBP, 3.00 lg/L and DEP, 300 lg/L) PAEs, respectively. Therefore, the potential ecological risk of PAEs cannot be ignored (Mo et al 2001;Lan et al 2012). Compared with other countries, the PAE concentrations in the waters of China are higher than global PAE levels (higher than 8.00 lg/L).…”

How human activities in commercial areas contribute to phthalate ester pollution in street dust of Taiwan

“…The concentration of each PAE in the mixture was 1000 μg L -1 . Benzyl benzoate was used as an internal standard (99 % purity; Sigma Aldrich, USA) (Lan et al 2012, Skrbic et al 2016. All…”

“…A large number of studies have investigated PAEs in indoor dust (Bornehag et al 2005, Hwang et al 2008, Orecchio et al 2013, Zhang et al 2013, Ait Bamai et al 2014, Jeon et al 2016, Albar et al 2017, Larsson et al 2017, Subedi et al 2017, and human incidences of PAEs from indoor contamination have been reported (Pei et al 2013, Tran et al 2016 A C C E P T E D M A N U S C R I P T 5 2017). However, while indoor contamination can be controlled or managed by inhabitants, PAE street dust exposure is less easily controlled (Lan et al 2012, Skrbic et al 2016. Although street dust PAE levels can serve as an important indicator of contamination, their presence in outdoor matrices is not usually monitored and is, therefore, not well documented (Zhang et al 2013, Skrbic et al 2016.…”

“…Although street dust PAE levels can serve as an important indicator of contamination, their presence in outdoor matrices is not usually monitored and is, therefore, not well documented (Zhang et al 2013, Skrbic et al 2016. To date, only a few studies of street dust PAE contamination have been reported, in China and Serbia (Lan et al 2012, Zhang et al 2013, Skrbic et al 2016 and no studies have measured PAE contamination in street dust of Taiwan. Here, the industrialization has led to the rapid development of areas where plastic and metal processing industries thrive for the last forty years.…”

“…Like many other Asian countries, Taiwan has many night markets. There are around three hundred night markets operating in multiple cities throughout Taiwan and they are considered a signature of the Taiwanese/Asian culture (Sun et al 2012, Chen et al 2014. Night markets exist in almost every area of Kaohsiung City, and there are thousands of people working in or visiting these night markets every day (Zhao et al 2011, Chen et al 2014, Liao 2017.…”