Occurrence and Gas–Particle Partitioning of Organic UV-Filters in Urban Air

Abstract

A retrospective analysis of a comprehensive series of high-volume air samples (n = 70) collected during 2010−2011 in Toronto (Canada) was performed. Seven UV compounds were analyzed by gas chromatography−tandem mass spectrometry (GC−MS/MS) with sum of concentrations (gas + particle phase) ranging from 80 to 2030 pg/m 3 . Homosalate (HMS) was the most prevalent organic UV-filter in air (47% of the total concentration), followed by 2-ethylhexyl salicylate (EHS, ∼29%), E-and Z-2-ethylhexyl 4-methoxycinnamate (EHMC, ∼17%). Ambient air (gas + particle phase) concentrations of organic UVfilters showed a strong seasonality, with peak levels during the summer. An analysis of Clausius−Clapeyron slopes indicated that much of the ambient burden of organic UV-filters are explained by volatilization from terrestrial and aquatic surfaces and supplemented with human activities and use of lotions and sunscreens, containing organic UV-filters, in addition to its use in plastics, textiles, paints, and pesticides. The results showed that organic UVfilters exist mainly in the gas phase with some exceptions, for instance, octocrylene (OCR), which was associated with both gas and particle phases, and avobenzone (AVB), which was predominantly in the particle phase. Lastly, this study revealed the need for basic physical chemical property data for organic UV-filters, including information on transformation rates and products, for better evaluating their environmental fate and effects.

Identification of Triazine UV Filters as an Emerging Class of Abundant, Ubiquitous Pollutants in Indoor Dust and Air from South China: Call for More Concerns on Their Occurrence and Human Exposure

“…Similar to the target screening results in indoor dust, 12 out of the 17 target triazine UV filters were also identified in both gas and particle phases of indoor air. Total air concentrations (gas + particle phases) of ∑triazine UV filters ranged from 274 to 4980 pg/m 3 , with a median of 1590 pg/m 3 , which were substantially higher than those of several legacy UV filters previously measured in outdoor air (80–2030 pg/m 3 ) . Compared to other environmental chemicals recently reported in indoor air, the air concentrations of ∑triazine UV filters were generally higher than those of halogenated flame retardants measured in Sweden, Ireland, UK, and Norway and those of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic and sulfonic acids measured in China …”

“…Total air concentrations (gas + particle phases) of ∑triazine UV filters ranged from 274 to 4980 pg/m 3 , with a median of 1590 pg/m 3 , which were substantially higher than those of several legacy UV filters previously measured in outdoor air (80−2030 pg/ m 3 ). 10 Compared to other environmental chemicals recently reported in indoor air, the air concentrations of ∑triazine UV filters were generally higher than those of halogenated flame retardants measured in Sweden, 53 Ireland, 54 UK, 55 and Norway 56 and those of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic and sulfonic acids measured in China. 57 The most prevalent organic triazine UV filters in indoor air were observed for EHT and BEMT (median: 536 and 1080 pg/m 3 ), followed by BDTDHP (11.8 pg/m 3 ), BDHOT (11.6 pg/m 3 ), BDTHTP (11.5 pg/m 3 ), DTHP (7.98 pg/m 3 ), and others (Table 2).…”

“…These experimental data clearly showed that triazine UV filters were predominant in the particle phase, which differed from other types of organic UV filters that were reported to preferentially partition into the gas phase in urban air. 10 This can be explained by the low subcooled liquid vapor pressure (P L ) and high octanol−air partition coefficient (K oa ) values of triazine UV filters estimated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) EPI Suite program (Table S1). These findings preliminarily shed light on the atmospheric fate pathways of triazine UV filters and suggest that environmental atmospheric transport of triazine UV filters may be mainly mediated by particle movement rather than gas diffusion.…”

“…Because of their extensive and increasing use, a large variety of UV filters are leaching into the environment, gaining more and more attention regarding their risks to the environment and human health. , Current concerns over UV filters are primarily focused on the benzophenone- and benzotriazole-type chemicals . These two types of UV filters have been recorded worldwide to occur in various environmental and biological matrices, including air, water, sediment, dust, sludge, bird eggs, and human urine. ,− Furthermore, multiple toxic effects of these UV filters have also been widely demonstrated, including endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, and developmental toxicity. − …”

Release and Gas–Particle Partitioning Behavior of Liquid Crystal Monomers during the Dismantling of Waste Liquid Crystal Display Panels in E-Waste Recycling Facilities

“…Partitioning of atmospheric LCMs between gas and particle phases were presented using two partitioning parameters: the gas–particle partitioning coefficient ( K P , m 3 /μg) and the particulate fractions (ϕ), which are widely used to characterize the gas–particle partitioning behavior of atmospheric SVOCs and were calculated as follows: ,,, where C P and C G are the measured LCM concentrations in the particle and gas phases (pg/m 3 ), respectively, and C TSP is the measured concentration of TSP in the air (μg/m 3 ).…”