PCB in air, dust and surface wipes in 73 Danish homes
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PCB in air, dust and surface wipes in 73 Danish homes. / Andersen, Helle Vibeke; Gunnarsen, Lars; Knudsen, Lisbeth E.; Frederiksen, Marie.
In: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, Vol. 229, 113429, 2020.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - PCB in air, dust and surface wipes in 73 Danish homes
AU - Andersen, Helle Vibeke
AU - Gunnarsen, Lars
AU - Knudsen, Lisbeth E.
AU - Frederiksen, Marie
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - As part of an investigation of the total indoor exposure of residents in PCB contaminated apartments in a building estate in Denmark, 73 homes were visited. Samples of air, vacuum cleaner dust and surface wipes were taken and analysed for 15 PCB congeners. The 53 apartments located in high-rise buildings with indoor PCB containing sealants showed significant elevated total concentrations of PCB in air, dust and surface wipes compared to 20 reference homes. The average concentration in exposed homes was 2330 ng PCBtotal/m3 in air, 12.000 ng PCBsum15/g in dust and for surface wipes 529 ng PCBsum15/wipe. These values were respectively 40, 25 and 50 times higher than the averages found in reference homes. The air concentration in all exposed homes was higher than the lower recommended action level of 300 ng PCBtotal/m3 from the Danish Health Authority, whereas all reference homes were below. The air concentrations in exposed homes were variating, partly due to indoor temperature. The concentrations in air and dust samples were significantly correlated for PCBsum7 in exposed homes. No significant correlation was observed between samples of air and surface wipes, despite surface wipes from exposed homes were significantly different from wipes taken in reference homes. Both dust samples and surface wipes have a potential as screening tool for identifying elevated levels of the less chlorinated PCBs in air. Additional short-term measurements of air concentrations in a subgroup of exposed homes indicated limited diurnal variations within the individual homes. The congener patterns were rather uniform within the respective media from the exposed homes and dominated by tri- and tetraPCBs. The pattern of air differed from that of dust and surface wipes, which were more alike. The study demonstrates a wide spread PCB contamination of the indoor environment in buildings with PCB in indoor sealants and confirms the need for identifying and alleviate PCB in buildings causing a health concern to the occupants.
AB - As part of an investigation of the total indoor exposure of residents in PCB contaminated apartments in a building estate in Denmark, 73 homes were visited. Samples of air, vacuum cleaner dust and surface wipes were taken and analysed for 15 PCB congeners. The 53 apartments located in high-rise buildings with indoor PCB containing sealants showed significant elevated total concentrations of PCB in air, dust and surface wipes compared to 20 reference homes. The average concentration in exposed homes was 2330 ng PCBtotal/m3 in air, 12.000 ng PCBsum15/g in dust and for surface wipes 529 ng PCBsum15/wipe. These values were respectively 40, 25 and 50 times higher than the averages found in reference homes. The air concentration in all exposed homes was higher than the lower recommended action level of 300 ng PCBtotal/m3 from the Danish Health Authority, whereas all reference homes were below. The air concentrations in exposed homes were variating, partly due to indoor temperature. The concentrations in air and dust samples were significantly correlated for PCBsum7 in exposed homes. No significant correlation was observed between samples of air and surface wipes, despite surface wipes from exposed homes were significantly different from wipes taken in reference homes. Both dust samples and surface wipes have a potential as screening tool for identifying elevated levels of the less chlorinated PCBs in air. Additional short-term measurements of air concentrations in a subgroup of exposed homes indicated limited diurnal variations within the individual homes. The congener patterns were rather uniform within the respective media from the exposed homes and dominated by tri- and tetraPCBs. The pattern of air differed from that of dust and surface wipes, which were more alike. The study demonstrates a wide spread PCB contamination of the indoor environment in buildings with PCB in indoor sealants and confirms the need for identifying and alleviate PCB in buildings causing a health concern to the occupants.
KW - House dust
KW - Indoor air
KW - Indoor exposure
KW - PCB
KW - Surface wipes
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijheh.2019.113429
DO - 10.1016/j.ijheh.2019.113429
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 32008890
AN - SCOPUS:85076634848
VL - 229
JO - International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health
JF - International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health
SN - 1438-4639
M1 - 113429
ER -
ID: 254721594