The health risks posed by atmospheric brominated flame retardants (BFRs) have been widely studied, but there remains a lack of clarity about exposure differences between clear days and haze days. We sampled the total suspended particle (TSP) and gaseous BFRs on clear days in summer, clear days in winter, and haze days in winter in Harbin, China, to investigate the variations in the concentrations and intakes (dermal and inhalation) in the different weather conditions. The concentrations of atmospheric BFRs were highest on haze days in winter (185 pg/m3), followed by clear days in summer (158 pg/m3), and clear days in winter (79.2 pg/m3), and these concentrations were significantly correlated with the concentrations of TSP. The human intake in the different weather conditions followed the pattern of the BFR concentrations, and the human intake of atmospheric BFRs was dominated by inhalation. A comparison of the BFR levels showed that the human intake of gaseous and particulate BFRs varied in the three weather conditions and that the inhalation intake, but not the dermal intake, was influenced under high concentrations of gaseous BFRs with low molecular weight.
{"title":"Factors affecting the levels and pathways of atmospheric brominated flame retardant uptake by humans in different weather conditions","authors":"Peng-Tuan Hu, Shi-Min Zhong, Dong-Hai Liu, Liang Wang, Hao Yu, Zhiguo Cao, Yi-Fan Li","doi":"10.20517/jeea.2022.30","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20517/jeea.2022.30","url":null,"abstract":"The health risks posed by atmospheric brominated flame retardants (BFRs) have been widely studied, but there remains a lack of clarity about exposure differences between clear days and haze days. We sampled the total suspended particle (TSP) and gaseous BFRs on clear days in summer, clear days in winter, and haze days in winter in Harbin, China, to investigate the variations in the concentrations and intakes (dermal and inhalation) in the different weather conditions. The concentrations of atmospheric BFRs were highest on haze days in winter (185 pg/m3), followed by clear days in summer (158 pg/m3), and clear days in winter (79.2 pg/m3), and these concentrations were significantly correlated with the concentrations of TSP. The human intake in the different weather conditions followed the pattern of the BFR concentrations, and the human intake of atmospheric BFRs was dominated by inhalation. A comparison of the BFR levels showed that the human intake of gaseous and particulate BFRs varied in the three weather conditions and that the inhalation intake, but not the dermal intake, was influenced under high concentrations of gaseous BFRs with low molecular weight.","PeriodicalId":73738,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental exposure assessment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67658473","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This article explores the role of smart technologies in advancing Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for enhanced disease surveillance. Disease surveillance is crucial for monitoring and controlling infectious diseases, and WBE provides a complementary approach by analyzing wastewater to identify and track pathogens. During the COVID-19 pandemic, WBE has been successfully used to detect and monitor SARS-CoV-2 in various types of wastewater, providing early warning of outbreaks and identifying emerging hotspots. However, WBE faces challenges such as the need for specialized equipment and sensitive methodologies. To overcome these limitations, biosensors have been developed, offering high sensitivity, specificity, and rapid results. Electrochemical biosensors are particularly promising for WBE due to their real-time connectivity, low-cost design, and wireless data collection, despite their limitations. Integration of smart sensors into the Internet of Things (IoT) enables seamless data integration and real-time monitoring. Furthermore, the widespread use of smartphones presents an opportunity to revolutionize smart diagnostics by leveraging their features for data analysis and communication.
{"title":"The role of smart technologies in wastewater-based epidemiology","authors":"José Gonçalves","doi":"10.20517/jeea.2023.16","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20517/jeea.2023.16","url":null,"abstract":"This article explores the role of smart technologies in advancing Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for enhanced disease surveillance. Disease surveillance is crucial for monitoring and controlling infectious diseases, and WBE provides a complementary approach by analyzing wastewater to identify and track pathogens. During the COVID-19 pandemic, WBE has been successfully used to detect and monitor SARS-CoV-2 in various types of wastewater, providing early warning of outbreaks and identifying emerging hotspots. However, WBE faces challenges such as the need for specialized equipment and sensitive methodologies. To overcome these limitations, biosensors have been developed, offering high sensitivity, specificity, and rapid results. Electrochemical biosensors are particularly promising for WBE due to their real-time connectivity, low-cost design, and wireless data collection, despite their limitations. Integration of smart sensors into the Internet of Things (IoT) enables seamless data integration and real-time monitoring. Furthermore, the widespread use of smartphones presents an opportunity to revolutionize smart diagnostics by leveraging their features for data analysis and communication.","PeriodicalId":73738,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental exposure assessment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67658182","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Qingqing Zhu, Minrui Fang, Xin Wang, Chunyang Liao, G. Jiang
Triclosan (TCS), triclocarban (TCC), parabens, bisphenols (BPAs), tetrabromobisphenol A and its alternatives (TBBPAs), and phthalate esters (PAEs) are typical endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which have received increasing attention due to their potential adverse effects on ecological and human health. Human exposure to these EDCs is widespread. However, data regarding the distribution and related health risks of multiple EDCs in chemical parks are relatively scarce. In this study, 28 EDCs were determined in surface soil, sediment, and sludge samples collected from the Yangkou Chemical Industrial Park (Jiangsu, China). With the exception of TBBPAs, the distributions of Σ(TCS + TCC), Σ6parabens, Σ8BPAs, and Σ9PAEs in environmental media were as follows: sludge > sediment ≥ soil. No obvious differences were found regarding the concentrations of Σ9PAEs within the soil samples. Higher levels of Σ(TCS + TCC) (186 μg kg-1 dw) and Σ3TBBPAs (154 μg kg-1 dw) were found in the soil near a chemical manufacturer and the main sewage outlet of a wastewater treatment plant, respectively. The non-carcinogenic risks of EDCs from soil were estimated, and the risk levels were found to be a few orders of magnitude lower than the reported reference dose (RfD) values. The hazard indexes for all the samples were smaller than one, suggesting that the chemical industrial park posed a low risk to the workers. Additionally, the mass inventories of Σ(TCS + TCC), Σ6parabens, Σ8BPAs, Σ3TBBPAs, and Σ9PAEs were estimated to be 507, 90.6, 133, 20.7, and 1090 kg, respectively. These findings help to establish baseline concentrations for EDCs in soil, sediment, and sludge in a chemical industrial park.
{"title":"Occurrence and distribution of several endocrine-disrupting chemicals in a chemical park: exploring the health risks of multiple pollutants","authors":"Qingqing Zhu, Minrui Fang, Xin Wang, Chunyang Liao, G. Jiang","doi":"10.20517/jeea.2022.34","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20517/jeea.2022.34","url":null,"abstract":"Triclosan (TCS), triclocarban (TCC), parabens, bisphenols (BPAs), tetrabromobisphenol A and its alternatives (TBBPAs), and phthalate esters (PAEs) are typical endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which have received increasing attention due to their potential adverse effects on ecological and human health. Human exposure to these EDCs is widespread. However, data regarding the distribution and related health risks of multiple EDCs in chemical parks are relatively scarce. In this study, 28 EDCs were determined in surface soil, sediment, and sludge samples collected from the Yangkou Chemical Industrial Park (Jiangsu, China). With the exception of TBBPAs, the distributions of Σ(TCS + TCC), Σ6parabens, Σ8BPAs, and Σ9PAEs in environmental media were as follows: sludge > sediment ≥ soil. No obvious differences were found regarding the concentrations of Σ9PAEs within the soil samples. Higher levels of Σ(TCS + TCC) (186 μg kg-1 dw) and Σ3TBBPAs (154 μg kg-1 dw) were found in the soil near a chemical manufacturer and the main sewage outlet of a wastewater treatment plant, respectively. The non-carcinogenic risks of EDCs from soil were estimated, and the risk levels were found to be a few orders of magnitude lower than the reported reference dose (RfD) values. The hazard indexes for all the samples were smaller than one, suggesting that the chemical industrial park posed a low risk to the workers. Additionally, the mass inventories of Σ(TCS + TCC), Σ6parabens, Σ8BPAs, Σ3TBBPAs, and Σ9PAEs were estimated to be 507, 90.6, 133, 20.7, and 1090 kg, respectively. These findings help to establish baseline concentrations for EDCs in soil, sediment, and sludge in a chemical industrial park.","PeriodicalId":73738,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental exposure assessment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67658512","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Exposure to high levels of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) poses health risks in high-traffic urban areas. BTEX exposure at two microenvironments, the roadside and along the traveling routes, within urban and suburban areas of the Bangkok Metropolitan Region was examined to assess cancer and noncancer risks. The lifetime cancer risk (LCR) for benzene and noncancer hazard index (HI) for all BTEX compounds were evaluated for adult male and female groups (drivers, passengers, and street vendors) in two scenarios: average case and worst case. With the assumption of negligible exposure outside the two considered microenvironments, the pickup drivers had the highest LCR and HI. Higher exposure risks were found in urban areas than in the suburbs and among men than females. Higher toluene levels were found at all monitoring sites in two microenvironments, but benzene was the most important in causing noncancer risk. The HI for all target groups ranged from 8.5E-03 to 4.0E-01, indicating a low noncancer risk from BTEX exposure (HI < 1). The LCR caused by benzene exposure ranged from 1.7E-06 to 7.2E-05, which is higher than the United States EPA most health-protective limit (1E-06). Further research should include other microenvironments by assessing the 24-hour exposure of all considered groups.
{"title":"Health risk assessment of BTEX exposure at roadside and on-road traveling route in Bangkok Metropolitan Region","authors":"J. Kongpran, N. T. Kim Oanh, Nguyen Thanh Hang","doi":"10.20517/jeea.2022.38","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20517/jeea.2022.38","url":null,"abstract":"Exposure to high levels of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) poses health risks in high-traffic urban areas. BTEX exposure at two microenvironments, the roadside and along the traveling routes, within urban and suburban areas of the Bangkok Metropolitan Region was examined to assess cancer and noncancer risks. The lifetime cancer risk (LCR) for benzene and noncancer hazard index (HI) for all BTEX compounds were evaluated for adult male and female groups (drivers, passengers, and street vendors) in two scenarios: average case and worst case. With the assumption of negligible exposure outside the two considered microenvironments, the pickup drivers had the highest LCR and HI. Higher exposure risks were found in urban areas than in the suburbs and among men than females. Higher toluene levels were found at all monitoring sites in two microenvironments, but benzene was the most important in causing noncancer risk. The HI for all target groups ranged from 8.5E-03 to 4.0E-01, indicating a low noncancer risk from BTEX exposure (HI < 1). The LCR caused by benzene exposure ranged from 1.7E-06 to 7.2E-05, which is higher than the United States EPA most health-protective limit (1E-06). Further research should include other microenvironments by assessing the 24-hour exposure of all considered groups.","PeriodicalId":73738,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental exposure assessment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67658524","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
We report concentrations of organophosphate esters (OPEs) in air from living rooms, bedrooms, and offices in Birmingham, UK. To place concentrations in these commonly frequented indoor microenvironments in context, we also measured the same OPEs in air samples collected from an outdoor location on the University of Birmingham campus. Concentrations of tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP), and tri-n-butyl phosphate (TnBP) in indoor air significantly exceeded (P > 0.05) those in outdoor air. In contrast, concentrations of tris(1,3-dichloroisopropyl) phosphate (TDCIPP), triphenyl phosphate (TPhP), and 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPP) in indoor and outdoor air were statistically indistinguishable (P < 0.05). Comparison of estimates of human exposure via inhalation derived from our data with previous estimates of exposure via dust ingestion, diet, drinking water, and dermal contact with furniture reveals that inhalation is the most important contributor to aggregate UK adult exposure to TCIPP (85% exposure) and TCEP (67% exposure). While average aggregate exposures of UK adults were well below health-based reference dose values, continued evaluation of human exposure is recommended as high-end exposures of some individuals (e.g., those inhabiting microenvironments containing concentrations of TCIPP at the high end of the range reported here) likely exceed substantially average exposures.
{"title":"Organophosphate esters in indoor and outdoor air in Birmingham, UK: implications for human exposure","authors":"Yessica Ortiz, S. Harrad","doi":"10.20517/jeea.2023.20","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20517/jeea.2023.20","url":null,"abstract":"We report concentrations of organophosphate esters (OPEs) in air from living rooms, bedrooms, and offices in Birmingham, UK. To place concentrations in these commonly frequented indoor microenvironments in context, we also measured the same OPEs in air samples collected from an outdoor location on the University of Birmingham campus. Concentrations of tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP), and tri-n-butyl phosphate (TnBP) in indoor air significantly exceeded (P > 0.05) those in outdoor air. In contrast, concentrations of tris(1,3-dichloroisopropyl) phosphate (TDCIPP), triphenyl phosphate (TPhP), and 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPP) in indoor and outdoor air were statistically indistinguishable (P < 0.05). Comparison of estimates of human exposure via inhalation derived from our data with previous estimates of exposure via dust ingestion, diet, drinking water, and dermal contact with furniture reveals that inhalation is the most important contributor to aggregate UK adult exposure to TCIPP (85% exposure) and TCEP (67% exposure). While average aggregate exposures of UK adults were well below health-based reference dose values, continued evaluation of human exposure is recommended as high-end exposures of some individuals (e.g., those inhabiting microenvironments containing concentrations of TCIPP at the high end of the range reported here) likely exceed substantially average exposures.","PeriodicalId":73738,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental exposure assessment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67658226","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Penelope J.E. Quintana, Nicolas Lopez-Galvez, Georg E. Matt, Ashley L. Merianos, Nathan G. Dodder, Eunha Hoh, Lara Stone, Chase A. Wullenweber, E. Melinda Mahabee-Gittens
Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is a major cause of illnesses in children and leaves a persistent and toxic residue indoors called thirdhand smoke (THS) that adheres to various surfaces, permeates materials, accumulates in household dust, and is subsequently re-emitted into the air. THS, like SHS, has been shown to contain multiple toxic chemicals, including carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs). Children are highly susceptible to tobacco smoke pollutants, and simple methods for assessing children’s SHS and THS exposure are needed. Therefore, we evaluated the performance of a cotton pillow used as a passive sampler in homes of children with caregivers who smoke tobacco, with and without home smoking bans, as well as nonsmokers. We deployed a commercially available organic cotton travel pillow, which was left in the home for a median of 9.1 days. Pillow component nicotine levels were significantly higher in homes of smokers without a ban as compared to smokers and nonsmokers who had a ban (e.g., median pillowcase nicotine 337.7 ng/g per day vs. 72.5 ng/g per day and 0.1 ng/g per day, respectively) and differences were similar to those for air nicotine. Pillowcase TSNAs were detected mainly in the homes of smokers without a smoking ban. Pillow component (pillowcase, fabric, and filling) nicotine levels were highly correlated with air nicotine levels (rho = 0.76-0.88, all P < 0.001). Nicotine in the pillow components was also highly correlated with urinary cotinine in the children (rho = 0.65 to 0.81, all P < 0.001) and other measures of tobacco smoke exposure. Pillow performance as a sampler is promising, given the ease and simplicity of sample deployment.
二手烟(SHS)暴露是儿童患病的主要原因，并在室内留下一种被称为三手烟(THS)的持久有毒残留物，它附着在各种表面上，渗透到材料中，积聚在家庭灰尘中，随后重新排放到空气中。与SHS一样，三手烟已被证明含有多种有毒化学物质，包括致癌的烟草特异性亚硝胺(TSNAs)。儿童极易受到烟草烟雾污染物的影响，因此需要评估儿童二手烟和三手烟暴露情况的简单方法。因此，我们评估了棉质枕头作为被动采样器在有吸烟照顾者的儿童家中的表现，有或没有家庭禁烟令，以及不吸烟者。我们使用了一种市售的有机棉旅行枕，在家中放置的时间中位数为9.1天。在没有禁烟令的家庭中，枕套成分的尼古丁含量明显高于禁烟令的吸烟者和不吸烟者(例如，枕套尼古丁中位数为每天337.7纳克/克，分别为每天72.5纳克/克和每天0.1纳克/克)，差异与空气尼古丁相似。枕套TSNAs主要在没有禁烟令的吸烟者家中检测到。枕头成分(枕套、织物和填充物)尼古丁水平与空气尼古丁水平高度相关(rho = 0.76-0.88，均P <0.001)。枕头成分中的尼古丁也与儿童尿可替宁高度相关(rho = 0.65 ~ 0.81, P <0.001)和其他烟草烟雾暴露措施。考虑到样本部署的便利性和简单性，枕头作为采样器的性能是有希望的。
{"title":"Cotton pillow samplers for assessment of thirdhand smoke in homes of smokers and nonsmokers with children","authors":"Penelope J.E. Quintana, Nicolas Lopez-Galvez, Georg E. Matt, Ashley L. Merianos, Nathan G. Dodder, Eunha Hoh, Lara Stone, Chase A. Wullenweber, E. Melinda Mahabee-Gittens","doi":"10.20517/jeea.2023.28","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20517/jeea.2023.28","url":null,"abstract":"Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is a major cause of illnesses in children and leaves a persistent and toxic residue indoors called thirdhand smoke (THS) that adheres to various surfaces, permeates materials, accumulates in household dust, and is subsequently re-emitted into the air. THS, like SHS, has been shown to contain multiple toxic chemicals, including carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs). Children are highly susceptible to tobacco smoke pollutants, and simple methods for assessing children’s SHS and THS exposure are needed. Therefore, we evaluated the performance of a cotton pillow used as a passive sampler in homes of children with caregivers who smoke tobacco, with and without home smoking bans, as well as nonsmokers. We deployed a commercially available organic cotton travel pillow, which was left in the home for a median of 9.1 days. Pillow component nicotine levels were significantly higher in homes of smokers without a ban as compared to smokers and nonsmokers who had a ban (e.g., median pillowcase nicotine 337.7 ng/g per day vs. 72.5 ng/g per day and 0.1 ng/g per day, respectively) and differences were similar to those for air nicotine. Pillowcase TSNAs were detected mainly in the homes of smokers without a smoking ban. Pillow component (pillowcase, fabric, and filling) nicotine levels were highly correlated with air nicotine levels (rho = 0.76-0.88, all P < 0.001). Nicotine in the pillow components was also highly correlated with urinary cotinine in the children (rho = 0.65 to 0.81, all P < 0.001) and other measures of tobacco smoke exposure. Pillow performance as a sampler is promising, given the ease and simplicity of sample deployment.","PeriodicalId":73738,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental exposure assessment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135659798","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Current research needs in environmental exposure assessment: a personal perspective","authors":"S. Harrad","doi":"10.20517/jeea.2023.21","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20517/jeea.2023.21","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73738,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental exposure assessment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67658243","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-01-01DOI: 10.20517/jeea.2022.081601
N. Ramungul, Y. Boontongkong, Pavares Viwatthanasittiphong, Nuengruthai Chuayrueng1, Yaowadee Temtanapat, Saisamorn Koonhorm, Arjaree Ausavanonkulporn
The global push towards a circular economy (CE) has led to increasing efforts to improve resource utilization efficiency, including plastics recycling. However, the presence of additives, especially those that are toxic, complicates plastics recycling in several ways. Without sufficient controls, the spread of hazardous additives via recycling activities represents a significant public health challenge, particularly among developing nations. This study demonstrates evidence of such uncontrolled recycling, based on an investigation of four household flexible PVC product groups available in Thailand. A versatile pyrolysis/thermal desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py/TD-GC-MS) method was employed to simultaneously screen 18 target plasticizers in these products. Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and diisononyl phthalate (DINP) are the most frequently detected primary plasticizers. DEHP is dominant in vinyl boots, flooring sheets, and hoses, while DINP is dominant in cable sheaths, likely due to a spill-over effect from the EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive. Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are secondary plasticizers that are also detected in most samples, except for boots. The other plasticizers detected include other ortho-phthalates and non-phthalates. These results provide insight into combinatory patterns of plasticizer ‘cocktails’, that comprise restricted, as-yet-unrestricted, and non-restricted plasticizers, embedded in the same individual samples, with a maximum of seven plasticizers found in a single cable sheath. These findings indicate the existence of potentially risky recycling practices that target embedded plasticizers to save cost, without due consideration of their inherent toxicity. Proper interventions are necessary to ensure that CE and chemical safety can be synergized.
{"title":"Circular economy without chemicals controls? Evidence of recirculated toxic plasticizers in flexible PVC products","authors":"N. Ramungul, Y. Boontongkong, Pavares Viwatthanasittiphong, Nuengruthai Chuayrueng1, Yaowadee Temtanapat, Saisamorn Koonhorm, Arjaree Ausavanonkulporn","doi":"10.20517/jeea.2022.081601","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20517/jeea.2022.081601","url":null,"abstract":"The global push towards a circular economy (CE) has led to increasing efforts to improve resource utilization efficiency, including plastics recycling. However, the presence of additives, especially those that are toxic, complicates plastics recycling in several ways. Without sufficient controls, the spread of hazardous additives via recycling activities represents a significant public health challenge, particularly among developing nations. This study demonstrates evidence of such uncontrolled recycling, based on an investigation of four household flexible PVC product groups available in Thailand. A versatile pyrolysis/thermal desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py/TD-GC-MS) method was employed to simultaneously screen 18 target plasticizers in these products. Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and diisononyl phthalate (DINP) are the most frequently detected primary plasticizers. DEHP is dominant in vinyl boots, flooring sheets, and hoses, while DINP is dominant in cable sheaths, likely due to a spill-over effect from the EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive. Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are secondary plasticizers that are also detected in most samples, except for boots. The other plasticizers detected include other ortho-phthalates and non-phthalates. These results provide insight into combinatory patterns of plasticizer ‘cocktails’, that comprise restricted, as-yet-unrestricted, and non-restricted plasticizers, embedded in the same individual samples, with a maximum of seven plasticizers found in a single cable sheath. These findings indicate the existence of potentially risky recycling practices that target embedded plasticizers to save cost, without due consideration of their inherent toxicity. Proper interventions are necessary to ensure that CE and chemical safety can be synergized.","PeriodicalId":73738,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental exposure assessment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67657597","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yin-Zhi Lv, Xiaojun Luo, Qun-Jie Feng, Chun-You Zhu, Yanhong Zeng, B. Mai
Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) are ubiquitous in dust and air, which may be responsible for human dermal exposure to DDT. However, existing DDT exposure studies mainly concentrate on dietary exposure, and studies on skin exposure pathway are lacking. To gain further insight into the human exposure pathway of DDT, skin wipe and food samples were collected in a rural area in southern China, where new input of DDTs was found in both indoor and outdoor environments. The total DDT concentrations in skin wipes and foodstuffs varied from < method quantification limit (MQL) to 1470 ng/m2 and from < MQL to 12.8 ng/g wet weight, respectively. In foodstuffs, egg showed the highest DDT concentration, while forehead showed the highest DDT concentration in the four skin locations. p,p’-DDT was predominant in the hand and forearm wipes, while p,p’-DDE was dominant in the forehead, upper arm, and food samples. The total DDT daily absorption median levels via dermal contact, hand-mouth contact, and food consumption were 0.187, 0.0237, and 0.994 ng/kg/d, respectively. Organic eggs and wild fish contaminated by DDTs released locally are the main sources of human dietary exposure to DDTs, and reducing the intake of contaminated fish and eggs would help to significantly reduce human DDT absorption; in this case, the contribution of dermal exposure cannot be not negligible.
{"title":"Occurrence of DDT in foodstuffs and skin wipes from a rural area, South China: insight into human exposure pathway","authors":"Yin-Zhi Lv, Xiaojun Luo, Qun-Jie Feng, Chun-You Zhu, Yanhong Zeng, B. Mai","doi":"10.20517/jeea.2023.12","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20517/jeea.2023.12","url":null,"abstract":"Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) are ubiquitous in dust and air, which may be responsible for human dermal exposure to DDT. However, existing DDT exposure studies mainly concentrate on dietary exposure, and studies on skin exposure pathway are lacking. To gain further insight into the human exposure pathway of DDT, skin wipe and food samples were collected in a rural area in southern China, where new input of DDTs was found in both indoor and outdoor environments. The total DDT concentrations in skin wipes and foodstuffs varied from < method quantification limit (MQL) to 1470 ng/m2 and from < MQL to 12.8 ng/g wet weight, respectively. In foodstuffs, egg showed the highest DDT concentration, while forehead showed the highest DDT concentration in the four skin locations. p,p’-DDT was predominant in the hand and forearm wipes, while p,p’-DDE was dominant in the forehead, upper arm, and food samples. The total DDT daily absorption median levels via dermal contact, hand-mouth contact, and food consumption were 0.187, 0.0237, and 0.994 ng/kg/d, respectively. Organic eggs and wild fish contaminated by DDTs released locally are the main sources of human dietary exposure to DDTs, and reducing the intake of contaminated fish and eggs would help to significantly reduce human DDT absorption; in this case, the contribution of dermal exposure cannot be not negligible.","PeriodicalId":73738,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental exposure assessment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67658171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Penelope J.E. Quintana, Nicolas Lopez-Galvez, Georg E. Matt, Ashley L. Merianos, Nathan G. Dodder, Eunha Hoh, Lara Stone, Chase A. Wullenweber, E. Melinda Mahabee-Gittens
Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is a major cause of illnesses in children and leaves a persistent and toxic residue indoors called thirdhand smoke (THS) that adheres to various surfaces, permeates materials, accumulates in household dust, and is subsequently re-emitted into the air. THS, like SHS, has been shown to contain multiple toxic chemicals, including carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs). Children are highly susceptible to tobacco smoke pollutants, and simple methods for assessing children’s SHS and THS exposure are needed. Therefore, we evaluated the performance of a cotton pillow used as a passive sampler in homes of children with caregivers who smoke tobacco, with and without home smoking bans, as well as nonsmokers. We deployed a commercially available organic cotton travel pillow, which was left in the home for a median of 9.1 days. Pillow component nicotine levels were significantly higher in homes of smokers without a ban as compared to smokers and nonsmokers who had a ban (e.g., median pillowcase nicotine 337.7 ng/g per day vs. 72.5 ng/g per day and 0.1 ng/g per day, respectively) and differences were similar to those for air nicotine. Pillowcase TSNAs were detected mainly in the homes of smokers without a smoking ban. Pillow component (pillowcase, fabric, and filling) nicotine levels were highly correlated with air nicotine levels (rho = 0.76-0.88, all P < 0.001). Nicotine in the pillow components was also highly correlated with urinary cotinine in the children (rho = 0.65 to 0.81, all P < 0.001) and other measures of tobacco smoke exposure. Pillow performance as a sampler is promising, given the ease and simplicity of sample deployment.
二手烟(SHS)暴露是儿童患病的主要原因，并在室内留下一种被称为三手烟(THS)的持久有毒残留物，它附着在各种表面上，渗透到材料中，积聚在家庭灰尘中，随后重新排放到空气中。与SHS一样，三手烟已被证明含有多种有毒化学物质，包括致癌的烟草特异性亚硝胺(TSNAs)。儿童极易受到烟草烟雾污染物的影响，因此需要评估儿童二手烟和三手烟暴露情况的简单方法。因此，我们评估了棉质枕头作为被动采样器在有吸烟照顾者的儿童家中的表现，有或没有家庭禁烟令，以及不吸烟者。我们使用了一种市售的有机棉旅行枕，在家中放置的时间中位数为9.1天。在没有禁烟令的家庭中，枕套成分的尼古丁含量明显高于禁烟令的吸烟者和不吸烟者(例如，枕套尼古丁中位数为每天337.7纳克/克，分别为每天72.5纳克/克和每天0.1纳克/克)，差异与空气尼古丁相似。枕套TSNAs主要在没有禁烟令的吸烟者家中检测到。枕头成分(枕套、织物和填充物)尼古丁水平与空气尼古丁水平高度相关(rho = 0.76-0.88，均P <0.001)。枕头成分中的尼古丁也与儿童尿可替宁高度相关(rho = 0.65 ~ 0.81, P <0.001)和其他烟草烟雾暴露措施。考虑到样本部署的便利性和简单性，枕头作为采样器的性能是有希望的。
{"title":"Cotton pillow samplers for assessment of thirdhand smoke in homes of smokers and nonsmokers with children","authors":"Penelope J.E. Quintana, Nicolas Lopez-Galvez, Georg E. Matt, Ashley L. Merianos, Nathan G. Dodder, Eunha Hoh, Lara Stone, Chase A. Wullenweber, E. Melinda Mahabee-Gittens","doi":"10.20517/evcna.2023.34","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20517/evcna.2023.34","url":null,"abstract":"Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is a major cause of illnesses in children and leaves a persistent and toxic residue indoors called thirdhand smoke (THS) that adheres to various surfaces, permeates materials, accumulates in household dust, and is subsequently re-emitted into the air. THS, like SHS, has been shown to contain multiple toxic chemicals, including carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs). Children are highly susceptible to tobacco smoke pollutants, and simple methods for assessing children’s SHS and THS exposure are needed. Therefore, we evaluated the performance of a cotton pillow used as a passive sampler in homes of children with caregivers who smoke tobacco, with and without home smoking bans, as well as nonsmokers. We deployed a commercially available organic cotton travel pillow, which was left in the home for a median of 9.1 days. Pillow component nicotine levels were significantly higher in homes of smokers without a ban as compared to smokers and nonsmokers who had a ban (e.g., median pillowcase nicotine 337.7 ng/g per day vs. 72.5 ng/g per day and 0.1 ng/g per day, respectively) and differences were similar to those for air nicotine. Pillowcase TSNAs were detected mainly in the homes of smokers without a smoking ban. Pillow component (pillowcase, fabric, and filling) nicotine levels were highly correlated with air nicotine levels (rho = 0.76-0.88, all P < 0.001). Nicotine in the pillow components was also highly correlated with urinary cotinine in the children (rho = 0.65 to 0.81, all P < 0.001) and other measures of tobacco smoke exposure. Pillow performance as a sampler is promising, given the ease and simplicity of sample deployment.","PeriodicalId":73738,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental exposure assessment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135610679","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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