Abstract No:
1413
Abstract Type:
Professional Poster
Authors:
Z Lin1
Institutions:
1National Taiwan University Insitute of Environmental and Occupational Health Science, Taipei, Taiwan
Presenter:
Zih Han Lin
National Taiwan University Insitute of Environmental and Occupational Health Science
Description:
Synthetic antioxidants (SAs), such as synthetic phenolic antioxidants (SPAs), amine antioxidants (AAs), and organophosphate antioxidants (OPAs), are widely used in consumer products like plastics, textiles, and personal care items to prevent oxidative damage. However, these substances and their products, including BHT-quinone (BHT-Q) and 6-PPD-quinone (6-PPD-Q), have been associated with health issues like endocrine disruption, liver toxicity, and DNA damage. Employees in retail and office environments may be exposed to SAs by breathing indoor air and coming into contact with dust, where these chemicals tend to accumulate. Since people spend many hours at work and activities such as cleaning can disturb dust, it is important to understand how SAs in air and dust relate to each other to better assess exposure risks and enhance indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in workplaces.
Situation / Problem:
The extensive use of SAs in consumer goods results in their presence in indoor air and dust, creating exposure risks for employees in places such as department stores and offices. Although some studies have investigated SAs in household dust, there is little information about their levels in workplace settings where people spend considerable time. Additionally, transformation products of SAs, which may be more harmful than the original compounds, complicate exposure evaluations. The scarcity of data on how SAs distribute between air and dust in work environments makes it difficult to accurately estimate exposure and develop effective control measures. This research seeks to address this gap by examining the predictive relationships between SAs found in workplace air and dust.
Methods:
This study quantifies synthetic antioxidants, including SPAs (such as BHT, BHA), AAs, OPAs, and their transformation products (like BHT-Q, 6-PPD-Q), present in indoor air and dust from workplace settings. Dust samples were collected from offices using vacuum cleaners or swipe techniques. Air samples were obtained with low-volume air samplers equipped with Tenax TA tubes, which effectively adsorb volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, operating at a flow rate of 60 L/min and sampling between 0.5 and 4 m³ of air.
Dust samples were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The dust was sieved to particles smaller than 150 µm, extracted with a dichloromethane:n-hexane mixture (3:1, v/v), and analyzed using GC/MS in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode to detect target SAs and their transformation products. The GC/MS system employes a DB-5MS column with a temperature program starting at 60°C (held for 2 minutes), increasing to 200°C at 10°C/min, then ramping to 340°C at 15°C/min, and held for 10 minutes.
Air samples were extracted from sorbent desorption tubes using n-hexane/acetone solvent desorption, and the extracted compounds were analyzed by GC/MS in SIM mode. The same DB-5MS column and temperature program were applied to maintain consistency between air and dust sample analyses. Concentrations of SAs and their byproducts were quantified using calibration curves with internal standards. Regression analyses, including variables such as the octanol-air partition coefficient (KOA), were performed to assess predictive relationships between SA concentrations in air and dust.
Results / Conclusions:
This research establishes a dependable approach for identifying SAs and their transformation products in workplace air and dust, providing insights into their partitioning patterns. Early results reveal a strong relationship between SA levels in air and dust, suggesting that dust serves as a major reservoir for these substances in occupational environments. These findings are crucial for developing predictive exposure models and creating indoor environment quality (IEQ) standards to protect worker health. The outcomes will guide future health risk assessments and aid regulatory initiatives aimed at minimizing SA exposure in work settings.
Core Competencies:
Indoor Air Quality
Secondary Core Competencies:
Exposure Assessment
Choose at least one (1), and up to five, (5) keywords from the following list. These selections will optimize your presentation's search results for attendees.
Exposure Assessment
Indoor air quality
Based on the selected primary competency area of your proposal, select one group below that would be best suited to serve as a subject matter expert for peer review:
(Select one)
Indoor Environment Quality
Based on the information that will be presented during your proposed session, please indicate the targeted audience practice level: (select one)
Professional: Professional is a job title given to persons who have obtained a baccalaureate or graduate degree in IH/OH, public health, safety, environmental sciences, biology, chemistry, physics, or engineering or who have a degree in another area that meets the standards set forth in the next section, Knowledge and Skill Sets of IH/OH Practice Levels, and has had 4 or more years of practice. One significant way of demonstrating professional competence is to achieve certification by a 3rd party whose certification scheme is recognized by the International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA) such as the Board of Global EHS Credentialing (BGC).
Was this session organized by an AIHA Technical Committee, Special Interest Group, Working Group, Advisory Group or other AIHA project Team?
No
Are worker exposure data and/or results of worker exposure data analysis presented?
No
How will this help advance the science of IH/OH?
This research advances industrial hygiene and occupational health by providing a detailed analysis of synthetic antioxidants in workplace air and dust, addressing a key gap in understanding occupational exposure to these emerging contaminants. By developing robust methods using GC/MS for dust and Tenax TA for air sampling, the study offers a framework for quantifying SAs and their transformation products in occupational settings. Exploring the air-dust partitioning of these compounds will enhance the ability to model exposure pathways, supporting the development of evidence-based strategies for exposure assessment. The insights gained will inform future research on workplace environmental hazards and contribute to creating safer, healthier work environments through improved IEQ management.
What level would you consider your presentation content geared towards?
Introductory: Introduces an elementary or basic subject area. Participant expected to have zero (0) to two (2) years of experience in industrial hygiene or OEHS, or a technical career path. Prerequisite: general knowledge.
Have you presented this information before?
No
I have read and agree to these guidelines.
Yes