Analysis of semi-volatile organic compounds in indoor dust and organic thin films by house type in South Korea

Moon-Kyung Kim; Taeyeon Kim; Jiseon Choi; Ye-Eun Joo; Heungjoo Park; Hyewon Lee; Cheolmin Lee; Soonmin Jang; Yasser Vasseghian; Sang-Woo Joo; Jung Il Lee; Kyung-Duk Zoh

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2022.113782

Analysis of semi-volatile organic compounds in indoor dust and organic thin films by house type in South Korea

Environ Res. 2022 Nov;214(Pt 2):113782. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113782. Epub 2022 Jul 8.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Health & Environment, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
² Korea Testing & Research Institute, Gwacheon, 13810, Republic of Korea.
³ Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Seokyeong University, Seoul, 02713, Republic of Korea.
⁴ Department of Chemistry, Sejong University, Seoul, 143-747, Republic of Korea.
⁵ Department of Chemistry, Soongsil University, Seoul, 06978, Republic of Korea.
⁶ Department of Chemistry, Soongsil University, Seoul, 06978, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: sjoo@ssu.ac.kr.
⁷ Korea Testing & Research Institute, Gwacheon, 13810, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: emjilee@ktr.or.kr.
⁸ Institute of Health & Environment, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: zohkd@snu.ac.kr.

PMID: 35810805
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113782

Abstract

In this study, semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in samples of indoor dust and organic thin films obtained from 100 residential houses in South Korea, were examined, based on both target analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and non-target analysis by gas chromatography-quadrupole time-of flight mass spectrometry (GC-QTOF-MS) screening. In the targeted approach, phthalates and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed in dust and organic film samples, to find that both these classes of SVOCs were detected in dust and organic film samples, with the median concentrations of eight phthalates (Σ₈ phthalate) and 16 PAHs (Σ₁₆ PAH) being 1015.93 μg/g and 1824.97 ng/g in the dust samples, and 75.79 μg/m² and 2252.78 ng/m² in the organic film samples, respectively. Among the phthalates, in all house types. bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was detected at the highest concentration, followed by dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and diisobuthyl phthalate (DiBP), with DEHP levels found to be highest in dwelling houses. DEHP levels were found to be significantly associated with building age and renovation status. Lower levels of DEHP were detected in houses less than 10 years old or that had undergone renovation in the previous 10 years. Among the assessed PAHs, a significant correlation was detected between benzo(a)pyrene in dust and building age (p < 0.05). These findings imply that the inhabitants of older houses are at a greater risk of exposure to SVOCs originating from indoor dust and organic films. Non-target screening of selected dust and organic film samples using GC-QTOF-MS data revealed the presence of numerous SVOC compounds, including triphenylphosphine oxide, (Z)-9-octadecenamide, and cyclosiloxanes, along with certain organophosphate flame retardants including tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP) and tris(1,3-dichloroisopropyl) phosphate (TDCPP), and plasticizers. These compounds identified in the non-target screening are of emerging concern, and their presence in dust and organic films needs to be estimated.

Keywords: GC-QTOF-MS; Indoor dust; Non-target analysis; Semi-volatile organic compounds.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Air Pollution, Indoor* / analysis
Diethylhexyl Phthalate* / analysis
Dust / analysis
Flame Retardants* / analysis
Organophosphates / analysis
Phthalic Acids* / analysis
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons* / analysis
Volatile Organic Compounds* / analysis

Substances

Dust
Flame Retardants
Organophosphates
Phthalic Acids
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Volatile Organic Compounds
Diethylhexyl Phthalate