Non-phthalate plasticizers in German daycare centers and human biomonitoring of DINCH metabolites in children attending the centers (LUPE 3).
Plasticizers have been widely used for decades as additives in diverse applications, including consumer and building products, toys, cables, and floorings. Due to toxicological concerns and restrictions of different dialkyl ortho-phthalates, other plasticizers have been increasingly used in recent years. Therefore, di-isononyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH), di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHT), di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA), acetyl tri-n-butyl citrate (ATBC), and trioctyl trimellitate (TOTM) plasticizer levels in indoor air and dust samples from 63 daycare centers in Germany were measured. Moreover, the urine samples of 208 children who attend 27 of these facilities were analyzed for the presence of four DINCH metabolites. DINCH, DEHT, and DEHA were present in indoor air with median values of 108 ng/m(3), 20 ng/m(3), and 34 ng/m(3), respectively. Median values of 302 mg/kg for DINCH, 49 mg/kg for DEHA, 40 mg/kg for DEHT, and 24 mg/kg ATBC were found in dust. In the urine samples, the three secondary metabolites of DINCH were observed with median values (95th percentiles) of 1.7 μg/l (10.0 μg/l) for OH-MINCH, 1.5 μg/l (8.0 μg/l) for oxo-MINCH, and 1.1 μg/l (6.1 μg/l) for cx-MINCH. Overall, these metabolite levels are orders of magnitude lower than the current HBM I values set by the German Human Biomonitoring Commission. Using general exposure assumptions, the intake resulting from dust ingestion and inhalation is low for children. The total daily DINCH intake calculated from biomonitoring data was 0.5 μg/kg b.w. using median values and 9.8 μg/kg b.w. as the maximum value. At present, non-phthalate plasticizers, especially DINCH, can be found in considerable amounts in dust samples from daycare centers and as DINCH metabolites in the urine of children. In relation to previous studies, the concentrations of DINCH in dust and urine have an increasing time trend. Compared with tolerable daily intake values, the total daily intake of DINCH reached only 1% of its maximum value to date; however, due to its increased use, higher exposure of DINCH is expected in the future.
Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Department of Chemical Safety and Toxicology, D-80538 Munich, Germany; Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, D-80336 Munich, Germany. Electronic address: hermann.fromme@lgl.bayern.de.
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Fromme
Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum (IPA), D-44789 Bochum, Germany.
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Schütze
Berlin-Brandenburg State Laboratory, Department of Environmental Health Protection, D-10557 Berlin, Germany.
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Lahrz
North Rhine-Westphalia State Agency for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection, D-45659 Recklinghausen, Germany.
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Kraft
Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Department of Chemical Safety and Toxicology, D-80538 Munich, Germany.
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Fembacher
North Rhine-Westphalia State Agency for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection, D-45659 Recklinghausen, Germany.
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Siewering
Berlin-Brandenburg State Laboratory, Department of Environmental Health Protection, D-10557 Berlin, Germany.
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Burkardt
Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Department of Chemical Safety and Toxicology, D-80538 Munich, Germany.
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Dietrich
Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum (IPA), D-44789 Bochum, Germany.
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Koch
Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Department of Chemical Safety and Toxicology, D-80538 Munich, Germany.
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Völkel
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D003998:Dicarboxylic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000652:urine*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D010795:Phthalic Acids; D010968:Plasticizers / Q000378:metabolism*; D012574:Schools
D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D003998:Dicarboxylic Acids; D004391:Dust; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D010795:Phthalic Acids; D010968:Plasticizers; C558012:diisononyl 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid; C032279:phthalic acid
DEHA; DEHT; DINCH; Daycare centers; Human biomonitoring; Indoor air; Plasticizer