Semi-volatile organic compounds and trace metals in air cleaner captured house dust

Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) and trace metals are found anywhere in indoor environments. This study aimed to characterize phthalates, alternative plasticizers (APs), organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs), and trace metals in air cleaner-captured house dust (ACCD) and to identify the determinants of contaminant levels in ACCD. In total, 120 ACCD samples were collected from 120 houses in Korea that had used air cleaners for over 1 year. All study participants completed a housing, behavior, and lifestyle-related factors questionnaire. The samples were analyzed for 16 phthalates, five APs, 18 OPFRs, and seven trace metals. There were seven chemicals in phthalates, three in APs, and in OPFRs, with 80% or more detection rates. None of trace metals were found with the detection rate above 65%. Among the three chemical groups, phthalates were detected at the highest concentrations (geometric mean [GM] (geometric standard deviation [GSD]): 575 (4.6) μg/g in total), followed by APs (389 (5.3) μg/g in total) and OPFRs (290 (3.6) μg/g in total). Among the trace metals, lead and manganese in the ACCD showed the highest concentrations (GM (GSD): 24.8 (8.1) and 24.2 (7.6) μg/g, respectively) with a detection rate of ~60%, followed by arsenic (2.9 (17.7) μg/g). The phthalates and Aps measured in the ACCD were comparable to those found in previous investigations of settled dust collected from houses in Korea. Butylbenzyl phthalate and acetyl tributyl citrate concentrations were significantly higher in homes with diffusers, and di-isobutyl phthalate concentrations were higher in homes with air fresheners(p≤0.05). No other determinants were associated with contaminant levels. As residents are persistently exposed to these ubiquitous contaminants through inhalation, appropriate measures are required to reduce potential exposures.