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Does soil track-in contribute to house dust concentrations of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in areas affected by soil or water contamination?

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 29, pages 218–226 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

The Minnesota Department of Health measured levels of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in house dust at homes in communities impacted by PFAA-contaminated soil and drinking water to determine whether PFAAs in soil outside the home are associated with concentrations in dust. House dust samples from both interior living spaces and entryways to the yard were collected and analyzed separately based on the presumption that PFAAs in entryway dust may better reflect “track-in” of PFAAs into the home from contaminated soil or lawns irrigated with contaminated water. PFAA detections and concentrations in living rooms were significantly higher compared to entryways; and concentrations in both sampling locations were higher than corresponding soil concentrations, suggesting that interior sources were the main contributors to PFAAs in house dust. PFAA dust concentrations in entryways were significantly associated with living room dust levels for all analytes except PFBA. Relationships between entryway dust and soil were only seen for one PFAA (PFOA). However, median concentrations of PFOA in entryway and living room dust were 35 and 70 times higher (respectively) than in soil, which highlights the lack of importance of PFAA soil track-in as a contributor to dust concentration in this setting. Due to the small sample size, larger scale studies are needed to further assess the potential for migration of PFAA contaminated soil to indoor dust.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Department of Health.

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  1. Minnesota Department of Health, Saint Paul, MN, USA

    Deanna P. Scher, James E. Kelly, Carin A. Huset, Kitrina M. Barry & Virginia L. Yingling

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Correspondence to Deanna P. Scher.

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Scher, D.P., Kelly, J.E., Huset, C.A. et al. Does soil track-in contribute to house dust concentrations of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in areas affected by soil or water contamination?. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 29, 218–226 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-018-0101-6

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