Phthalate esters in dusts from different indoor and outdoor microenvironment and potential human health risk: A case study in Beijing

• Published in: Environmental research 2025-02, Vol.266, p.120513, Article 120513
• Main Authors: Lv, Jiapei, Sun, Shanwei, Wu, Rongshan, Li, Xu, Bai, Yangwei, Xu, Jian, Guo, Changsheng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Distribution and composition profiles; Human exposure assessment; Indoor and outdoor dust; Phthalate esters (PAEs)
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.120513

Phthalate esters (PAEs) are widely used plasticizers that can easily migrate from plastic products, thereby presenting potential health risks through exposure. While PAE concentrations in dust have received increasing attention, there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding their environmental distribution, composition profiles, and associated human exposure risks in Beijing. This study investigated the presence of seven PAEs in 124 dust samples collected from eight indoor and four outdoor microenvironment types across the Beijing metropolitan area. The PAEs were detected universally in all samples, with di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di-iso-butyl phthalate (DIBP) as the predominant compounds, accounting for 91.78%–99.91% and 91.22%–99.76% of total PAE concentrations (Σ7PAEs) in indoor and outdoor dust, respectively. Indoor dust exhibited significantly higher Σ7PAEs (range: 45.33–1212.41 μg/g, mean: 130.61 μg/g) compared to outdoor dust (range: 2.10–5.41 μg/g, mean: 3.38 μg/g). Among indoor microenvironments, taxis had the highest Σ7PAEs (mean: 1250.59 μg/g), followed by private cars, print shops, residences, furniture shops, shopping malls, dormitories and offices. Outdoor Σ7PAEs levels decreased in the order of roads, residential areas, green belts, and parks. Estimated daily exposure doses through dust ingestion were significantly higher than those from dermal absorption and inhalation for five occupational groups (taxi drivers, print shop workers, road workers, office workers, jobless people), indicating dust ingestion as the primary exposure route, with DEHP and DBP as the main contributors. While current exposure levels may not present significant non-cancer risks based on hazard quotient and hazard index estimations, it's noteworthy that DEHP may pose a carcinogenic risk to taxi drivers. Potential risks cannot be overlooked considering the absence of toxicity thresholds, additional exposure pathways, and possible cocktail effects from coexisting pollutants. •PAEs profiles in both indoor and outdoor dusts from 12 microenvironment were studied for the first time.•DEHP, DBP and DIBP were the dominant PAE congener in both indoor and outdoor dusts.•The concentration of indoor dust in Σ7PAEs is 38 times higher than that of outdoor dust.•Estimated health risks of the six PAEs for five occupational groups via dust are currently acceptable.