Phthalate esters in face masks and associated inhalation exposure risk.
J Hazard Mater
; 423(Pt A): 127001, 2022 02 05.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1363291
ABSTRACT
This study assessed the composition of single-use face mask materials, quantified the concentration of phthalate esters in masks and evaluated associated inhalation exposure risk. All the mask samples, including 12 surgical and four N95/P1/P2 masks, were identified to be made of polypropylene, with polyethylene terephthalate present in the N95/P1/P2 masks. Di-methyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, di-ethyl phthalate, di-isobutyl phthalate and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate were frequently detected and their concentration summed up 55 ± 35 ~ 1700 ± 140 ng per surgical mask and 2300 ± 150 ~ 5200 ± 800 ng per N95/P1/P2 mask. Our simulation experiment suggested a mean loss of 13 - 71% of phthalate mass depending on compounds, during 5-hour wearing of these masks. This resulted in an estimated daily intake of individual compounds no higher than 20 ng/kg/day for adults and 120 ng/kg/day for toddlers, which were at least 80 times lower compared to relevant tolerable daily intake values. Two interventional trials were conducted where a volunteer wore a mask for four hours and urine samples were collected before and after the mask wearing. No obvious increase was observed for the urinary concentration of any phthalate metabolite, indicating minimal contribution to overall exposure to phthalate esters.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Phthalic Acids
/
Environmental Pollutants
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Adult
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
J Hazard Mater
Journal subject:
Environmental Health
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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