89 / 2023-04-28 20:30:15

Dust-phase phthalates in university dormitories and their associations with dormitory characteristics, occupancy activities and habits, and environmental factors

phthalates, dust, dormitory, associations, influencing factors

Phthalates are widely used as plasticizers in daily use materials and pose serious health hazards to humans. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of dust-phase phthalates in university dormitories and their associations with dormitory characteristics, occupancy activities and habits, and environmental factors. Analysis of the concentration levels of phthalates in 142 dust samples from 13 university dormitories in Beijing revealed the presence of ten phthalates with detection frequency ranging from 82.4% to 100%. Among them, di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP), and di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) were the most dominant phthalates in the dormitory dust with median contribution values of 32.1%, 30.7%, and 12.4%, respectively. Dormitory type, daily ventilation duration, indoor relative humidity, indoor temperature, and particulate matter (PM₁₀) concentrations were significantly associated with phthalate concentrations in dust. Our results provide strategies for reducing phthalate exposure among college students.