Phthalates in glass window films in university dormitories in Beijing, China, and exposure implications

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Phthalate concentrations were measured in glass window films in 145 dormitories at 13 universities in Beijing, China, from May to December 2019. We analyzed phthalate characteristics, examined possible phthalate sources, compared concentration differences between female and male dormitories and between sunny and shaded dormitories, and estimated the phthalate intake via dust ingestion, inhalation, and dermal absorption through direct air-through-skin pathways using Monte Carlo simulations. DCHP and DEHP were the most predominant phthalates in the window films, followed by DnBP, with median concentrations one to two orders of magnitude higher than those of the other phthalates. The contributions of DnBP, DCHP and DEHP to the total phthalate concentration were in the range of 2.2–45.9%. Phthalates in window films might have four indoor sources. The concentrations of six phthalates and ΣPAEs were higher in female dormitories than in male dormitories. Most phthalates showed no significant difference between sunny and shaded dormitories because the effects of temperature and photodegradation may have negated one another. The median phthalate intake ranged from 0.54 ng/(kg·day) to 4.61 μg/(kg·day). DMP and DEP exposures were the highest, followed by those of DiBP and DnBP. The intakes of 11 phthalates were higher for female students. Dermal absorption was the main exposure pathway of DMP, DEP, DiBP, DnBP, DMEP, DPP, DHP, and BBzP (contribution: 48.7–72.9%). For the other phthalates, dust ingestion was the main pathway (contribution: 64.5–97.5%).