Perfluoroalkyl Compounds (PFCs) in Indoor Dust: Concentrations, Human Exposure Estimates, and Sources
Abstract
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are globally distributed, persistent, toxic, and are found in human blood and serum. Exposure pathways are not well characterized. To better understand indoor dust ingestion as a potential pathway for human exposure, we determined the concentrations of these compounds in dust collected from 10 houses, 38 apartments, 10 day care centers, 10 offices, and 5 cars. Samples were prepared using a rapid extraction and cleanup method and analyzed using LC-MS/MS. PFOS and PFOA were found in dust samples from all microenvironments and their concentrations were significantly positively correlated to each other. Highest median concentrations were seen in offices (PFOS: 110 ng/g dry weight) and apartments (PFOA: 93 ng/g dw). Adult and toddler dust ingestion exposures were estimated and compared to dietary exposure data from Canada and Spain. Results show that diet is the most important exposure route, but in a worst case scenario, dust ingestion may also be significant.
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Sources of PFASs in the indoor environment are generally common, such as carpets, outdoor equipment, and paper products.
“The sources of PFASs in the indoor environment were generally common, such as carpets, outdoor equipment, and paper products.”
From Non-Target and Suspect Screening of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Airborne Particulate Matter in China (2018) · cites this paper as [69]
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- Authors
- Björklund, J. A., Thuresson, K., & de Wit, C. A.
- Affiliations
- Stockholm University (SE)
- Department of Applied Environmental Science (ITM), Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
- ORCID
- Thuresson, Kaj
- Venue
- Environmental Science & Technology
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2009-03-05
- Volume
- 43
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 2276-2281
- ISSN
- 0013-936X (ISSN-L)
- 1520-5851
- OpenAlex
- W2075730767
- Cited by
- 204
- References
- 22
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 13.67
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Environmental Science & Technology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Department of Commerce
- Minnesota Department Of Commerce
- Svenska Forskningsrådet Formas
- National Institute of Standards and Technology
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmaceutical Science › Fluorine in Organic Chemistry
- Keywords
- perfluorinated compounds, PFOS, perfluorooctanoic acid, house dust, human exposure pathways, persistent toxic substances, exposure sources, daycare centers, offices
- MeSH terms
- Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid, Dust, Environmental Exposure, Fluorocarbons, Humans, Air Pollution, Indoor
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