Journal Article

Levels and diverse composition profiles of chlorinated paraffins in indoor dust: possible sources and potential human health related concerns

Gao, Shutao, Wu, Yang, Zeng, Xiangying, Yu, Zhiqiang, Liang, Yi, Liu, Zhiyang, Yuan, Jing, He, Lixiong

2023

Overview

Chlorinated paraffins (CPs), a group of mixtures with different carbon chain lengths and chlorine contents, are widely used as plasticizers and flame retardants in various indoor materials. CPs could be released from CP-containing materials into the ambient environment and then enter the human body via inhalation, dust ingestion and dermal absorption, resulting in potential effects on human health. In this study, we collected residential indoor dust in Wuhan, the largest city in central China, and focused on the co-occurrence and composition profiles of CPs as well as the resultant human risk via dust ingestion and dermal absorption. The results indicated that CPs with C9–40 were ubiquity in indoor dust with medium-chain CPs (MCCPs, C14–17) as the main components (6.70–495 μg g–1), followed by short-chain CPs (SCCPs, C10–13) (4.23–304 μg g–1) and long-chain (LCCPs, C≥18) CPs (3.68–331 μg g–1). Low levels (not detected–0.469 μg g–1) of very short-chain CPs (vSCCPs, C9) were also found in partial indoor dust. The dominant homolog groups were C9 and Cl6–7 groups for vSCCPs, C13 and Cl6–8 groups for SCCPs, C14 and Cl6-8 groups for MCCPs, and C18 and Cl8–9 groups for LCCPs. Based on the measured concentrations, vSCCPs, SCCPs, MCCPs, and LCCPs posed limited human health risks to local residents via dust ingestion and dermal absorption.

• Publisher: Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Absorption / Atmospheric particulates / Carbon 13 / Carbon 14 / Carbon isotopes / Chlorine / Composition / Dermal absorption / Dust / Flame retardants / Health risks / Indoor environments / Ingestion / Inhalation / Molecular chains / Paraffins / Respiration / Skin