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Modeling clothing as a secondary source of exposure to SVOCs across indoor microenvironments

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology (2023)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Evidence suggests that clothing can influence human exposure to semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) through transdermal uptake and inhalation.

Objectives

The objectives of this study were [1] to investigate the potential for clothing to function as a transport vector and secondary source of gas-phase SVOCs across indoor microenvironments, [2] to elucidate how clothing storage, wear, and laundering can influence the dynamics of transdermal uptake, and [3] to assess the potential for multiple human occupants to influence the multimedia dynamics of SVOCs indoors.

Methods

A computational modeling framework (ABICAM) was expanded, applied, and evaluated by simulating and augmenting two “real-world” chamber experiments. A primary strength of this framework was its representation of occupants and their clothing as unique entities with the potential for location changes.

Results

Estimates of transdermal uptake of diethyl phthalate (DEP) and di(n-butyl) phthalate (DnBP) were generally consistent with those extrapolated from measured concentrations of urinary metabolites, and those predicted by two other mechanistic models. ABICAM predicted that clean clothing (long sleeves, long pants, and socks, 100% cotton, 1 mm thick) readily accumulated DEP (6900−9700 μg) and DnBP (4500−4800 μg) from the surrounding chamber air over 6 h of exposure to average concentrations of 233 (DEP) and 114 (DnBP) μg·m-3. Because of their high capacity, clean clothing also effectively minimized transdermal uptake. In addition, ABICAM predicted that contaminated clothing functioned as a vector for transporting DEP and DnBP across indoor microenvironments and reemitted 13−80% (DEP) and 3−27% (DnBP) of the accumulated masses over 48 h.

Significance

Though the estimated secondary inhalation exposures from contaminated clothing were low compared to the corresponding primary exposures, these secondary exposures could be accentuated in other contexts, for example, involving longer timeframes of clothing storage, multiple occupants wearing contaminated clothing, and/or repeated instances of clothing-mediated transport of contaminants (e.g., from an occupational setting).

Impact

This modeling study reaffirms the effectiveness of clean clothing in reducing transdermal uptake of airborne SVOCs and conversely, that contaminated clothing could be a source of SVOC exposure via transdermal uptake and by acting as a vector for transporting those contaminants to other locations.

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Fig. 1: Doses of each phthalate from transdermal uptake in Scenario 1 (Table 1, Weschler et al. experiment) [12].
Fig. 2: Comparison of doses of each phthalate from transdermal uptake under Scenario 2 (Table 1, Morrison et al. experiment) [11].
Fig. 3: Predicted dynamics of gas-phase phthalates in the chamber air under Scenario 1 (Table 1, Weschler et al. experiment) [12].
Fig. 4: Predicted dynamics of phthalates in indoor air and in clothing under Scenario 3 (Table 1).
Fig. 5: Predicted dynamics of phthalates in the occupant’s bare skin under Scenario 3 (Table 1).

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Data availability

All model parameterization, associated equations, and descriptions, are included in this article and its supplementary information file.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Prof. Glenn Morrison (UNC) for his feedback on the study and manuscript, John Ladan (U of T) for his feedback on the algorithm design, and Drs. Michael Breen and Hunter Fisher (U.S. EPA) for their technical reviews of the manuscript. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Funding

Funding was provided by the University of Toronto to support JK and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada funding to MLD (NSERC, RGPIN-2017-06654).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B1, Canada

    Jacob Kvasnicka & Miriam L. Diamond

  2. Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, 27711, USA

    Elaine A. Cohen Hubal

  3. School of the Environment, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3E8, Canada

    Miriam L. Diamond

Authors
  1. Jacob Kvasnicka
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  3. Miriam L. Diamond
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Contributions

JK conceptualized the study, developed the modeling framework and simulations, and wrote the initial draft. MLD and EACH supervised the study, provided feedback, and edited the manuscript drafts.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Miriam L. Diamond.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Kvasnicka, J., Cohen Hubal, E.A. & Diamond, M.L. Modeling clothing as a secondary source of exposure to SVOCs across indoor microenvironments. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-023-00621-2

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