title: Pollution levels and characteristics of phthalate esters in indoor air of offices.
abstract: The pollution status and characteristics of PAEs (phthalate esters) were investigated in indoor air of offices, and PAEs of both gas-phase and particulate-phase were detected in all the samples. The concentration (sum of the gas phase and the particulate phase) was 4748.24 ng/m3, ranging between 3070.09 and 6700.14 ng/m3. Diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate were the most abundant compounds, together accounting for 70% of the ∑6PAEs. Dividing the particulate-phase PAEs into four size ranges (<2.5, 2.5-5, 5-10, >10 μm), the result indicated that PAEs in PM2.5 were the most abundant, with the proportion of 72.64%. In addition, the PAE concentration in PM2.5 correlated significantly with the total particulate-phase PAEs (R2=0.85). Thus, the amount of PAEs in PM2.5 can be estimated from the total amount of particulate-phase PAEs using this proportion. In a comparison between the offices and a newly decorated study room, it was found that pollution characteristics were similar between these two places. Thus, it is implied that the PAE concentration decreased by 50% 2 yr after decorating.
authors: College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China. Electronic address: 21114023@zju.edu.cn.
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Song
authors: College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors: Chenchen
authors: C
authors: Chi
authors: College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Guo
authors: College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors: Xueqing
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: The Xinhua Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310005, China.
authors: Lingxiao
authors: L
authors: Cheng
authors: College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution and Control, Hangzhou 310058, China. Electronic address: shenxueyou@zju.edu.cn.
authors: Xueyou
authors: X
authors: Shen
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D002681:China; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004952:Esters / Q000032:analysis*; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D004952:Esters; D010795:Phthalic Acids
keywords: Indoor air; Office; Particle size distribution; Phthalate esters; Pollution status