Multiresidue analytical method for high production volume chemicals in dust samples, occurrence and human exposure assessment

A multiresidue analytical method based on pressurised liquid extraction and gas-chromatography mass spec-trometry was developed to determine 22 compounds belonging to different chemical families in indoor dust.: Seven organophosphate esters, six phthalate esters, three benzotriazoles, five benzothiazoles and four benze-nesulfonamides were included in the present study, all of them belonging to the category of high production volume chemicals (HPVCs). Apparent recoveries ranged between 45% and 123% and method quantification limits ranged from 0.03 lig/g to 3.8 lig/g. The occurrence of the selected HPVCs was evaluated in indoor dust from different locations in the Tarragona (Catalonia, Spain) region. Two benzenesulfonamides, ortho-toluenesulfonamide and para-toluenesulfonamide, were detected in dust samples for the first time. Phthalate esters and organophosphate esters were the most abundant compounds found, and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was determined at the highest concentrations. With the data obtained, human exposure was assessed by calculating the estimated daily intakes (EDI) via ingestion and dermal contact. Non-carcinogenic and carcino-genic risk assessments found no risks in any of the scenarios tested, which included two age classes (children and adults) and two possible exposure scenarios (median and worst-case scenario), except for the evaluation of carcinogen risk due to ingestion of DEHP in the worst-case scenario.