Phthalate exposure in primary school children: concentrations, oral intake, and risk assessment in Jinan, China

Phthalates in indoor environments can enter the human body through non-dietary exposure routes. Excessive exposure to phthalates in children may cause health issues. We examined exposure concentrations, oral intake, and risks for primary-school students in their living environments (home, classroom, and outdoor) in Jinan. We collected 138 dust samples and focused on 13 common phthalates. Phthalates were ubiquitous across all environments, with di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), and di-iso-butyl phthalate (DiBP) representing the highest proportions. Concentrations varied by environment: girls’ bedrooms > boys’ bedrooms, girls’ living rooms > boys’ living rooms, homes > classrooms > outdoors, and urban outdoors > suburban outdoors. Factors such as PM_2.5 levels, the use of personal care products, item types, and fabric types influenced indoor phthalate concentrations. Oral exposure data showed that the home is the primary exposure environment, accounting for 51%–88%, followed by the classroom and outdoor environments. The carcinogenic risk associated with DEHP exceeded acceptable limits for all children, with four children exhibiting hazard index values greater than 1. We provide significant data on phthalate exposure in primary school children and suggest that exposure reduction strategies should focus on DEHP, DnBP, and DiBP in both homes and classrooms.