Determination of Endocrine Disruptors in Automobile Exhaust Particulate Matter.

Abstract

Thirty-one endocrine disruptors, including alkylphenols, phthalates and styrene oligomers, in diesel and gasoline exhaust particulate matter were determined simultaneously by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). When particulate matter was subjected to Soxhlet extraction and Kuderna-Danish concentration, four phthalates, an adipate and five styrene trimers were found to exist as contaminants from the ambient air. Regarding the other 21 compounds, only benzo[a]pyrene and n-pentylphenol were detected in the range of 0.5-11 and 0.1-1.1 μg/km driving distance, respectively, from both diesel and gasoline exhaust particulate matter. When particulate matter was subjected to only ultrasonic extraction, the above phthalates, adipate and styrene trimers were not detected as contaminants from the ambient air. Using this treatment method, the above phthalates, adipate and styrene trimers were not detected in either of the two types of exhaust particulate matter. The above results revealed that the presence of such endocrine disruptors as benzo[a]pyrene and n-pentylphenol in diesel and gasoline exhaust particulate matter must be investigated in greater detail. Furthermore, it becomes clear that prevention of contamination during sample pretreatment is necessary.