title: [Indoor air pollution with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons caused by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon containing parquet floor adhesives. Report of current status for evaluating and dealing with this "new chronic pollution" of indoor air].
abstract: In 1997 so far unknown indoor contaminations were detected in a flat of former American Forces living quarters in Frankfurt/Main, Germany. Household dust samples were found to be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), respectively with benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), due to the use of a coal tar pitch parquet glue that had been standard building practice in Germany up to the 'sixties. To assess the amount of exposure, the local Health Services department organised analyses of PAH metabolites in the urine of children below 6 years of age considered to be at risk for oral exposure to BaP in household dust while playing on the floor. In addition the local Health Services informed all ministeries concerned of the problem. During the following months several meetings on this topic were held by experts in the respective spheres and recommendations for redeveloping indoor sites were outlined. In almost 3,000 analyses of samples of household dust and parquet glue and about 1,200 urine analyses for PAH-metabolites in Frankfurt/Main no correlation was seen between the BaP levels in parquet glue and the BaP levels in household dust samples, as well as with interual exposure. Recommendations for further action were made in view of the importance of the composition of parquet flooring for possible indoor contamination.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Umweltmedizin und Hygiene, Gesundheitsamt der Stadt Frankfurt am Main.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Heudorf
mesh_terms: D000269:Adhesives / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D014934:Wood
chemical_list: D000269:Adhesives; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons