Phthalate in house dust and tis relation to sick building syndrome and allergic symptoms

Kishi, Reiko

Thursday, March 22, 2012: 15:55

Bacalar 2 (Cancun Center)

Reiko Kishi, Center for Environmental & Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan

Atsuko Araki, Center for environmental & health sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan

Ikue Saitoh, Analysis, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health, Tokyo, Japan

Eiji Shibata, Public Health, Aichi Medical University, Nagakutei, Japan

Kanehisa Morimoto, Hygiene, Osaka University, Suita, Japan

Kunio Nakayama, Environment, Osaka University, Suita, Japan

Masatoshi Tanaka, Dept. of Hygiene, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan

Tomoko Takigawa, Public Health, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan

Tak3esumi Yoshimura, Epidemiology, UOEM, Kitakyushu, Japan

H Chikara, Health & Environmental Sciences, Fukuoka Institute, Dazaifu, Japan

Yasuaki Saijyo, Community Health, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan

Introduction
Phthalates are a range of compounds widely used as plasticizers and additives. The aim of this study was to measure phthalates levels in house dust and to evaluate the relationship between exposure and prevalence of sick building syndrome (SBS) and asthma and allergies medical treatments in inhabitants including both children and adults

Methods
Dust samples were collected from the living room of 182 single family dwellings in 6 cities in Japan. The “floor” samples were collected from floor and shelves lower than 35 cm from the floor, and “multi-surface” samples were collected from anything above 35 cm from the floor, such as shelves, furniture, walls, ceilings, etc. After being extracted by acetone, samples were analyzed by GC/MS(SIM) to determine the concentrations of 7 phthalates, DEHA, and BHT. All inhabitants living in the target dwellings were given self-administered questionnaires to assess their SBS prevalence and medical treatments for allergies within the preceding 2 years

Results
Collected dust weight that exceeds 25 mg was included into the results. DEHP was detected from all samples; the median value was 758 µg/g in floor and 853 µg/g in multi-surface, respectively. The concentrations of phthalate in multi-surface were slightly higher than in floor. The prevalence of SBS, asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis was 6.5%, 4.7%, 10.3%, 7.6% and 14.9%, respectively. Significant associations between the medical treatment of asthma and floor DEHA and multi-surface DnBP, dermatitis and floor BBzP and DEHA, conjunctivitis and floor DEHP were obtained after adjustment.

Discussion
The level of DEHP in this study was similar to studies conducted in Europe and the USA, whereas the level of BBzP was lower in this study. In contrast, the results suggested that exposure to phthalates at home may cause symptoms of asthma and allergies, and the results consist with previous children’s studies

A1917 Phthalate in house dust and tis relation to sick building syndrome and allergic symptoms