Assessing Human Exposure to Organic Pollutants in the Indoor Environment. Issue 38 (13th August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Salthammer, Tunga; Zhang, Yinping; Mo, Jinhan; Koch, Holger M.; Weschler, Charles J.
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie international edition. Volume 57:Issue 38(2018)
• Page Start: 12228
• Page End: 12263
• Publication Date: 2018-08-13
• Subjects: analytical techniques -- gas/particle distribution -- human biomonitoring -- indoor air pollution -- intake/uptake; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201711023
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-7851

Abstract

Abstract: There is an ongoing probing of the role of chemicals in the indoor environment. The majority of potential target substances are so‐called very volatile, volatile, and semi‐volatile organic compounds (VVOCs, VOCs, and SVOCs). Depending on their physical properties and the mass transfer conditions, they are distributed in or between the gas phase, particle phase, settled house dust, surface films, clothing, and other fabrics as well as the exposed skin and hair of the occupants themselves. Therefore, inhalation, ingestion, and dermal uptake all must be considered as relevant pathways for exposure assessment in human habitats. Exposure to VVOCs, VOCs, and SVOCs can be estimated by measuring their concentrations in relevant indoor compartments or by determining the amounts of the target compounds and/or their metabolites in urine and blood. Assessing the various routes of exposure often requires a combination of sophisticated and interdisciplinary theoretical background and experimental techniques. Consequently, close communication and collaboration between chemical and exposure scientists are needed to achieve a better understanding of human exposure to chemical substances in various indoor environments. Embedded in the toxicological context, this is the basis for assessing the corresponding health risks and for determining control strategies or approaches to limit such risks. Abstract : Body burdens of exogeneous organic chemicals can be assessed from the outside in (estimating inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption) or the inside out (biomonitoring of chemicals or metabolites in blood and urine). When these approaches are combined, they synergistically improve our knowledge of how organic chemicals get into our bodies as well as their effects on us.