High density polyethylene (HDPE) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) wristbands as personal passive samplers monitoring per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) exposure to postgraduate students

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2023-03, Vol.446, p.130652, Article 130652
• Main Authors: Deng, Yun, Wang, Fei, Liu, Liangying, Chen, Da, Guo, Ying, Li, Zhe
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkanesulfonic Acids; Environmental Monitoring; Female; Fluorocarbons - analysis; High density polyethylene (HDPE) wristband; Humans; Male; Passive samplers; Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs); PFASs exposure; Polyethylene; Polyurethanes; Students; Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) wristband
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130652

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) present adverse effects for human health, which result in strong needs for reliable tools monitoring personal exposure to PFASs. This study manufactured two wristbands of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and used the wristbands to monitor PFASs personal exposure. The analytical method was developed to measure 32 PFASs in the paired HDPE and TPU wristbands worn by 60 postgraduates. Twenty-nine of 32 PFASs were detected and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) was predominant individual PFASs with median concentrations of 337 and 554 pg/g for HDPE and TPU wristbands respectively. The gender and grade of students had moderate effects on PFASs distribution in the wristbands. Higher PFASs levels were determined in the two wristbands worn by the male students compared to the females, and the greatest PFASs concentration was observed in the wristbands worn by the first-year postgraduates, follow by second- and third-year postgraduates. Additionally, significant correlations between paired HDPE and TPU wristbands were observed for perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid (PFHpS), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and HFPO-DA. These results suggest that HDPE and TPU wristbands can be used as effective tools for monitoring personal PFAS exposure. [Display omitted] •HFPO-DA was predominant individual PFAS in HDPE and TPU wristbands worn by postgraduates.•Gender and grade of students had effects on PFASs distribution in wristbands.•The as-made HDPE and TPU wristbands are portable, inexpensive, and noninvasive.•The wristbands have the potential to become passive samplers evaluating PFASs personal exposure.