Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate transfer from polyvinyl chloride sheet to several kinds of particles

Abstract

Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) transfer from a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheet to 9 kinds of particles, namely, polyethylene particles (1–10, 45–53, 90–106 μm), soda lime glass particles (1–38, 45–53, 90–106 μm), black forest soil, carbon black, and cotton linter, for the particle weights of 0.3, 1, 3, and 12 mg/cm2, were determined for 1, 3, 7, and 14 days using a passive flux sampler (PFS), as well as standard dust. Transfer amounts to small polyethylene particles (1–10 μm), black forest soil, and carbon black were large (8.5, 16, and 48 μg/mg-particle, respectively, for 0.3 mg/cm2 for 14 days) and were similar to standard house dust (35 μg/mg-particle). On the other hand, transfer amount to large polyethylene particles (0.056–0.12 μg/mg-particle), soda lime glass (0.18–0.31 μg/mg-particle), and cotton linter (0.42–0.78 μg/mg-particle) were much lower. The DEHP transfer amount to the particles was proportional to the surface area of the particles, but not associated with the organic content. The DEHP transfer amount per surface area to small polyethylene particles was larger than that of other particles, suggesting the contribution of absorption into the polyethylene particle. However, for the larger polyethylene particles with different manufacturing process that may have different crystallinity, the contribution of absorption was small. The amount of DEHP transferred to soda lime glass did not differ from 1 to 14 days, suggesting that an adsorption equilibrium was reached after 1 day. The estimated value of particle/gas partition coefficients of DEHP, Kpg, of small polyethylene, black forest soil and carbon black were much higher (3.6, 7.1, and 18 m3/mg, respectively) than those of large polyethylene and soda lime glass particles (0.028–0.11 m3/mg).