Phthalates, Alkylphenols, Pesticides, Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers, and Other Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds in Indoor Air and Dust

Abstract

Chemicals identified as endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) have widespread consumer uses, yet little is known about indoor exposure. We sampled indoor air and dust in 120 homes, analyzing for 89 organic chemicals identified as EDCs. Fifty-two compounds were detected in air and 66 were detected in dust. These are the first reported measures in residential environments for over 30 of the compounds, including several detected at the highest concentrations. The number of compounds detected per home ranged from 13 to 28 in air and from 6 to 42 in dust. The most abundant compounds in air included phthalates (plasticizers, emulsifiers), o-phenylphenol (disinfectant), 4-nonylphenol (detergent metabolite), and 4-tert-butylphenol (adhesive) with typical concentrations in the range of 50-1500 ng/m3. The penta- and tetrabrominated diphenyl ethers (flame retardants) were frequently detected in dust, and 2,3-dibromo-1-propanol, the carcinogenic intermediate of a flame retardant banned in 1977, was detected in air and dust. Twenty-three pesticides were detected in air and 27 were detected in dust, the most abundant being permethrins and the synergist piperonyl butoxide. The banned pesticides heptachlor, chlordane, methoxychlor, and DDT were also frequently detected, suggesting limited indoor degradation. Detected concentrations exceeded government health-based guidelines for 15 compounds, but no guidelines are available for 28 compounds, and existing guidelines do not consider endocrine effects. This study provides a basis for prioritizing toxicology and exposure research for individual EDCs and mixtures and provides new tools for exposure assessment in health studies.

Elevated House Dust and Serum Concentrations of PBDEs in California: Unintended Consequences of Furniture Flammability Standards?

“…Bolinas is a rural community north of San Francisco. Sampling protocols and analytical methods have been described in detail elsewhere (4). Briefly, dust samples were collected using a Eureka Mighty-Mite vacuum cleaner attached to a Teflon crevice tool, modified to collect dust into a cellulose thimble (Whatman Inc., Clifton, NJ).…”

Indoor pollutants emitted by office equipment: A review of reported data and information needs

“…Inhalation exposure to toner dust has been implicated in case reports as causing respiratory impairment (Gallardo et al 1994;Armbruster et al 1996 Carlsson et al, 2000). PBDEs, which are classified as endocrine-disrupting compounds (Rudel et al 2003), have been shown to accumulate in human breast milk (Noren and Meironyte 2000). Recent evidence suggests that increased contact with office equipment leads to higher doses and tissue levels of these pollutants.…”

Glucuronidation and sulfonation, in vitro, of the major endocrine-active metabolites of methoxychlor in the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, and induction following treatment with 3-methylcholanthrene

“…Although MXC is less environmentally persistent than the related organochlorine pesticide, DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane), residues of MXC have been reported in soils, tissues of wildlife, and in household dust (Campoy et al, 2001;Rudel et al, 2003;Vorkamp et al, 2004;Wan et al, 2005). MXC metabolism by P450 isoforms both in vitro and in vivo have led to the identification of two major metabolites, formed by its sequential demethylation: the chiral mono-demethylated 2-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(p-methoxyphenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane (OH-MXC) and the bis-demethylated 2,2-bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane (HPTE) (Figure 1).…”