Neutral polyfluorinated compounds in indoor air in Germany--the LUPE 4 study.
Perfluoroalkyl- and polyfluoroalkyl-substances (PFAS) have been detected in many types of environmental media and biota including humans. We determined volatile PFAS, including fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), fluorotelomer acrylates (FTACs), perfluorooctane sulfonamides (FOSAs), and perfluorooctane sulfonamidoethanols (FOSEs), in indoor air of residences and schools in Germany. FTOHs, FTACs, FOSEs, and FOSAs were quantified with median levels in schools (in residences) of 11,783pg/m(3) (13,198pg/m(3)), 737pg/m(3) (450pg/m(3)), 130pg/m(3) (278pg/m(3)), and 243pg/m(3) (110pg/m(3)), respectively. Using our data and previously published results in a simplified model based on the medians and 95th percentiles, the "typical" and "high" daily non-dietary exposures were calculated to be 4.2ng/kg body weight (9.9ng/kgb.w.) for Σ-FTOHs and 0.1ng/kgb.w. (0.8ng/kgb.w.) for Σ-FOSEs/FOSAs in children. Inhalation was the dominant intake pathway for FTOHs; however, dust ingestion contributed significantly to the total intake of FOSEs/FOSAs. In organisms, 8:2 FTOH is degraded to perfluorooctanoate (PFOA). Assuming that 1% of 8:2 FTOH is converted to PFOA, 8:2 FTOH exposure in Germany has a negligible contribution to the total daily PFOA exposure, which is mainly driven by dietary intake.
Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Department of Chemical Safety and Toxicology, Pfarrstrasse 3, D-80538 Munich, Germany; Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Ziemssenstrasse 1, D-80336 Munich, Germany. Electronic address: Hermann.fromme@lgl.bayern.de.
Hermann
H
Fromme
Eurofins GfA GmbH, Stenzelring 14b, D-21107 Hamburg, Germany.
Annekatrin
A
Dreyer
Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Department of Chemical Safety and Toxicology, Pfarrstrasse 3, D-80538 Munich, Germany.
Silvio
S
Dietrich
Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Department of Chemical Safety and Toxicology, Pfarrstrasse 3, D-80538 Munich, Germany.
Ludwig
L
Fembacher
Berlin-Brandenburg State Laboratory, Department of Environmental Health Protection, Invalidenstr. 60, D-10557 Berlin, Germany.
Thomas
T
Lahrz
Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Department of Chemical Safety and Toxicology, Pfarrstrasse 3, D-80538 Munich, Germany.
Wolfgang
W
Völkel
D000388:Air / Q000032:analysis*; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D005858:Germany; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
D000393:Air Pollutants; D004391:Dust; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated
Exposure; FOSE; FTOH; Indoor air; PFAS; Polyfluorinated compounds