Study On Phthalates Exposure In Residential Buildings And Its Health Effects

Phthalate esters(PAEs)are ubiquitous in indoor environment,which are one of the Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds(SVOCs),and the substances are mianly used as plasticizers in industrial products and daily necessities,such as plastic,makeup and building materials.In this study,in Phase I,6918 residential buildings in Tianjin and Cangzhou area were surveyed.In Phase II,410 homes were inspected and dusts from those homes were collected.The concentrations of Diethyl phthalate(DEP),Diisobutyl phthalate(DiBP),Di-n-butyl phthalate(DnBP),Butyl benzyl phthalate(BBzP),Di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate(DEHP),Diisononyl phthalate(DiNP)in dust collected from children’ bedrooms were analyzed by GC-MS method.The associations between the chemical source of pollution,concentrations of PAEs and human health were evaluated.Some conclusions are drawn as below,(1)Concentration levels of phthalates in dust collected from children’s bedrooms in Tianjin and Cangzhou area were analyzed.The median values of DEP,DiBP,DnBP,BBzP,DEHP and DiNP were 0.31μg/g,16.38μg/g,42.6μg/g,0.11μg/g,127.11μg/g and 0.28μg/g,respectively.(2)The concentrations of phthalates were higher in homes with higher indoor temperature and in homes with exist of pollutant source such as laminated floor,painting walls,household cleaning products.(3)The exist of chemical source was related to an increment of the prevalent rate of allergic diseases(asthma,rhinitis and eczema)among children.(4)When the concentration of DEP and DiBP in dust in urban residential buildingds was above 0.33μg/g and 16.38μg/g respectively,the adjusted odds ratio(AOR)for the diagnosed asthmas of children was 2.08 and 2.48 respectively.In rural environment,higher concentration of DEP and/or DEHP was related to dry cough among children.(5)The prevalent rate of allergic diseases of children in village was lower than those among children in city.The concentration of PAEs in rural children’s bedrooms was lower than those in urban children’s bedrooms.Urban and rural families had different lifestyles and home decoration.Modern decoration was popular in urban families.This study shows that modern life exposure was related to higher concentration of PAEs in homes,consequently,more health problems among children.