Characterization of Urinary Phthalate Metabolites Among Custodians

Cavallari, Jennifer M.; Simcox, Nancy J.; Wakai, Sara; Lu, Chensheng; Garza, Jacob C.; Cherniack, Martin G.

doi:10.1093/annhyg/mev050

Cited by 9 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 39 publications

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“…Exposure pathways vary according to the phthalate, a person’s age, and activities. The use of phthalate-containing (e.g., diethyl phthalate or DEP) personal care products has been shown to be a source of exposure. − Other activities noted to increase phthalate exposure in adults include smoking, wearing plastic gloves during house cleaning, and eating with one’s hands . Dietary intake is a dominant exposure route, especially for DEHP. , Infant and children’s exposure can occur from proximity to phthalate-containing materials such as infant mattresses, mouthing phthalate-containing toys, and from hand-to-mouth transfer and dust ingestion. − Exposure also occurs through inhalation of phthalates from diffuse sources emitted to the indoor environment, dust ingestion, and dermal uptake arising from direct air-to-skin partitioning, adherence of dust to the skin, and transfer from phthalate-containing clothing. − …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phthalates: Relationships between Air, Dust, Electronic Devices, and Hands with Implications for Exposure

Yang

Harris

Jantunen

et al. 2020

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Exposure to phthalates is pervasive and is of concern due to associations with adverse health effects. Exposures and exposure pathways of six phthalates were investigated for 51 women aged 18−44 years in Ontario, Canada, based on measured phthalate concentrations in hand wipes and indoor media in their residences. All six phthalates had detection frequencies of 100% in air (∑ 6 670 ng m −3 geomean) and floor dust (∑ 6 630 μg g −1 ), nearly 100% detection frequencies for hand palms and backs that were significantly correlated and concentrations were repeatable over a 3 week interval. Phthalates on hands were significantly correlated with levels in air and dust, as expected according to partitioning theory. Total exposure was estimated as 4860 ng kg bw −1 day −1 (5th and 95th percentiles 1980−16 950 ng kg bw −1 day −1 ), with dust ingestion, followed by hand-to-mouth transfer, as the dominant pathways. With the exception of diethyl phthalate (DEP), phthalates had over 50% detection frequencies in surface wipes of most electronic devices sampled, including devices in which the use of phthalates was not expected. Phthalate concentrations on surfaces of hand-held devices were ∼10 times higher than on non-hand-held devices and were correlated with levels on hands. The data are consistent with phthalate emissions from sources such as laminate flooring and personal care products (e.g., scented candles), followed by partitioning among air, dust, and surface films that accumulate on electronic devices and skin, including hands. We hypothesize that hands transfer phthalates from emission sources and dust to hand-held electronic devices, which accumulate phthalates due to infrequent washing and which act as a sink and then a secondary source of exposure. The findings support those of others that exposure can be mitigated by increasing ventilation, damp cloth cleaning, and minimizing the use of phthalate-containing products and materials.

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