The occurrence of chlorinated derivatives of bisphenol S (Clx-BPS) and BPS was investigated in nine types of paper products (n = 125), including thermal paper, corrugated boxes, mail envelopes, newspapers, flyers, magazines, food contact paper, household paper, and business cards. BPS was found in all paper product samples, while Clx-BPS were mainly found in thermal paper (from below the limit of detection (<LOD) to 3.76 μg g-1), corrugated box (<LOD to 30.2 ng g-1), mailing envelope (<LOD to 31.0 ng g-1), and newspaper (<LOD to 98.5 ng g-1) samples. All samples with detectable Clx-BPS concentrations contained a high concentration of BPS. Cl1-BPS was the most frequently detected analyte, followed by Cl2-BPS-2 (2-chloro-4-(3-chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfonylphenol), Cl2-BPS-1 (2,6-dichloro-4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfonylphenol), Cl3-BPS, and Cl4-BPS. The estimated daily intake of Clx-BPS via dermal transfer upon handling of paper products was 0.546 and 16.4 ng per day for generally and occupationally exposed individuals, at the maximum concentration of 3.76 μg g-1. Additionally, the potential toxicity of Clx-BPS was predicted using an in silico tool, showing toxicity gradually increased with an increasing degree of chlorination of BPS. Thus, human exposure to Clx-BPS through paper products should be given due attention as a health risk.
Keywords: Chlorinated derivatives of bisphenol S; Dermal exposure; Paper products; Paper recycling; Toxicity.