title: Phthalates, non-phthalate plasticizers and bisphenols in Swedish preschool dust in relation to children's exposure.
abstract: Children are exposed to a wide range of chemicals in their everyday environments, including the preschool. In this study, we evaluated the levels of phthalates, non-phthalate plasticizers and bisphenols in dust from 100 Swedish preschools and identified important exposure factors in the indoor environment. In addition, children's total exposure to these chemicals was determined by urine analysis to investigate their relation with dust exposure, and to explore the time trends by comparing with children who provided urine fifteen years earlier. The most abundant plasticizers in preschool dust were the phthalates di-isononyl phthalate (DiNP) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) with geometric mean levels of 450 and 266μg/g dust, respectively, and the non-phthalate plasticizers bis(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHT) and diisononylcyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DiNCH) found at 105 and 73μg/g dust, respectively. The levels of several substitute plasticizers were higher in newer preschools, whereas the levels of the strictly regulated phthalate di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) were higher in older preschools. The presence of foam mattresses and PVC flooring in the sampling room were associated with higher levels of DiNP in dust. Children's exposure from preschool dust ingestion was below established health based reference values and the estimated exposure to different phthalates and BPA via preschool dust ingestion accounted for 2-27% of the total exposure. We found significantly lower urinary levels of BPA and metabolites of strictly regulated phthalates, but higher levels of DiNP metabolites, in urine from the children in this study compared to the children who provided urine samples fifteen years earlier.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: kristin.larsson@ki.se.
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.affiliation: Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, 221 85 Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Christian H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lindh
authors.affiliation: Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, 221 85 Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Bo Ag
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Jönsson
authors.affiliation: IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, 100 31 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giovanoulis
authors.affiliation: IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, 100 31 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Momina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bibi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bottai
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bergström
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Marika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berglund
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine; D010968:Plasticizers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012574:Schools; D013548:Sweden; D013997:Time Factors; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D004391:Dust; D010636:Phenols; D010795:Phthalic Acids; D010968:Plasticizers; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
keywords: Bisphenol A; Dust; Exposure assessment; Phthalate; Plasticizer; Preschool