Health Effects of Exposure to Indoor Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds in Chinese Building Environment: A Systematic Review

Abstract

People spend a considerable portion of their lives indoors; thus, the quality of the indoor environment is crucial. Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) are among the primary indoor pollutants responsible for various health risks. This paper systematically reviews the impact of SVOC exposure on human health in Chinese built environments. Based on a set of criteria, we judged 12 publications as providing sufficient information on both SVOC exposure and health effects to inform the relationship. Out of six studies on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), three observed a positive association between PAH exposure and lung cancer. Out of six studies of phthalate exposure, two studies reported a significant positive association between DEP and DiBP and asthma, between DEP and DEHP and dry cough among children, and between DBP and rhinitis among younger adults. The results of this review suggest that there might be a link between phthalate exposure and asthma and allergies, as well as a link between PAH exposure and lung cancer. However, due to the limited number of studies conducted, more evidence is necessary to definitively guide the establishment of standards for SVOC control in China.

Occupational exposure to cosmetic talc and mesothelioma in barbers, hairdressers, and cosmetologists: A systematic review of the epidemiology

“…For reassurance, we re-ran the PubMed search immediately prior to the submission of our paper to confirm that no additional epidemiological studies meeting our inclusion criteria had been published since our original search query. Twelve epidemiological studies met our inclusion criteria, which is comparable to the total number of studies resulting from the literature down-selection processes of several recent systematic reviews on a range of chemical exposures and adverse outcomes (Ataei et al, 2022; Bräuner et al, 2021; Cuenca-Lozano and Ramírez-García, 2023; Moreno-Gómez-Toledano et al 2021; Jensen et al, 2022; Narouzi et al, 2023). To our knowledge, there are no publicly available online calculators or similar research tools for estimating PMRs by occupation using data collected outside the U.S.…”

Concomitant determination of PAH, PCBs, and phthalates in indoor air and dust from residential houses in the Strasbourg region of France

“…Furthermore, BBP and DEHP are forbidden in all plasticized and PVC toys and childcare supplies (Phthalates and Their Impacts on Human Health). They contributed, among others, to the greatest hazard index (HI) on pregnant women and infants, for whom the HI values exceeded 1, showing that these populations were negatively impacted by the above-mentioned phthalates [57] .…”

Inhalation of Microplastics—A Toxicological Complexity

“…Following inhalation exposure, phthalates alter lung weight, cell proliferation, and the structure of the alveoli, potentially impacting gas exchange in rats [90][91][92]. Phthalates are associated with lung inflammation, oxidative stress, and a clinical decrease in the pulmonary functions [93][94][95][96][97][98][99]. Multiple studies have linked phthalates exposure with asthma and allergic reactions [100][101][102], including in children [97].…”