Publication
Title
Identification, semi-quantification and risk assessment of contaminants of emerging concern in Flemish indoor dust through high-resolution mass spectrometry
Author
Abstract
Indoor dust can contribute substantially to human exposure to known and contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). Novel compounds with high structural variability and different homologues are frequently discovered through screening of the indoor environment, implying that constant monitoring is required. The present study aimed at the identification and semi-quantification of CECs in 46 indoor dust samples collected in Belgium by liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry. Samples were analyzed applying a targeted and suspect screening approach; the latter based on a suspect list containing >4000 CECs. This allowed the detection of a total of 55 CECs, 34 and 21 of which were identified with confidence level (CL) 1/2 or CL 3, respectively. Besides numerous known contaminants such as di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA) or tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP) which were reported with detection frequencies (DFs) > 90%, several novel CECs were annotated. These included phthalates with differing side chains, such as decyl nonyl and decyl undecyl phthalate detected with DFs >80% and identified through the observation of characteristic neutral losses. Additionally, two novel organophosphate flame retardants not previously described in indoor dust, i.e. didecyl butoxyethoxyethyl phosphate (DDeBEEP) and bis(butoxyethyl) butyl phosphate (BBEBP), were identified. The implementation of a dedicated workflow provided semi-quantitative concentrations for a set of suspects. Such data obtained for novel phthalates were in the same order of magnitude as the concentrations observed for legacy phthalates indicating their high relevance for human exposure. From the semi-quantitative data, estimated daily intakes and resulting hazard quotients (HQs) were calculated to estimate the exposure and potential health effects. Neither of the obtained HQ values exceeded the risk threshold, indicating no expected adverse health effects.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Environmental pollution. - London, 1987, currens
Publication
London : 2024
ISSN
0269-7491 [print]
1873-6424 [online]
DOI
10.1016/J.ENVPOL.2024.123475
Volume/pages
345 (2024) , p. 1-11
Article Reference
123475
ISI
001182598900001
Pubmed ID
38331241
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Assessing human exposure to persistent and mobile chemicals.
From exposome to effect assessment of contaminants in human and animal models (EXPOSOME).
Exposure of premature neonates to bisphenol A and phthalates at the intensive care unit: accumulation in hair and long-term neurodevelopmentel and pulmonary toxicity.
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 29.03.2024
Last edited 10.04.2024
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