Multiresidue analytical method for high production volume chemicals in dust samples, occurrence and human exposure assessment

Abstract

A multiresidue analytical method based on pressurised liquid extraction and gas-chromatography mass spectrometry was developed to determine 22 compounds belonging to different chemical families in indoor dust.: Seven organophosphate esters, six phthalate esters, three benzotriazoles, five benzothiazoles and four benzenesulfonamides were included in the present study, all of them belonging to the category of high production volume chemicals (HPVCs). Apparent recoveries ranged between 45% and 123% and method quantification limits ranged from 0.03 μg/g to 3.8 μg/g. The occurrence of the selected HPVCs was evaluated in indoor dust from different locations in the Tarragona (Catalonia, Spain) region. Two benzenesulfonamides, ortho-toluenesulfonamide and para-toluenesulfonamide, were detected in dust samples for the first time. Phthalate esters and organophosphate esters were the most abundant compounds found, and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was determined at the highest concentrations. With the data obtained, human exposure was assessed by calculating the estimated daily intakes (EDI) via ingestion and dermal contact. Non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk assessments found no risks in any of the scenarios tested, which included two age classes (children and adults) and two possible exposure scenarios (median and worst-case scenario), except for the evaluation of carcinogen risk due to ingestion of DEHP in the worst-case scenario.