Children's exposure to phthalates in dust and soil in Southern Taiwan: A study following the phthalate incident in 2011

Abstract

The Taiwan food incident in 2011 regarding the illegal use of phthalate esters (PAEs) as clouding agents raised the public awareness and regulatory acts on certain PAEs. According to the review of the relevant literature, this is the first study to assess the exposures of children to PAE in dust and soil in their everyday environments (homes, elementary schools, kindergartens, outdoor playgrounds, and running tracks) and to evaluate the temporal trends of PAEs in home dust in Taiwan after the aforementioned incident. The total dust PAE levels in schools (median: 1562 μg/g dust, range: 9–16,233 μg/g dust) and kindergartens (median: 1124 μg/g dust, range: 91–15,180 μg/g dust) were significantly higher (p < 0.001) than those in homes (median: 497 μg/g dust, range: 13–12,451 μg/g dust). Children's exposure in schools of the age groups of 6–11 years and in kindergartens of for the age group of 3–5 years accounted for 44% and 42% of the total PAE exposures, respectively. The estimated daily dust PAE exposures (ingestion and dermal) for children were lower than the tolerable levels recommended by the European Food Safety Authority for reproductive and liver effects. The levels of DEHP, DBP, BBP, DEP, and DMP in home dust exhibited a declining trend during 2006–2014 in Southern Taiwan. The DINP/DEHP ratios in home, school, and kindergarten dusts revealed the accelerated replacement of DEHP, which may be the result of the awareness and regulatory concerns arising from the 2011 PAE incident. Recycled rubbers used in playgrounds and athletic fields are potential PAE sources that must be considered.