Wednesday, January 27, 2016: 8:00 AM-9:30 AM
Fundamentals and Applications
Chair:
Kyung-Ju Choi, Clean & Science
Technical Committee: 02.03 Gaseous Air Contaminants and Gas Contaminant Removal Equipment
Sponsor: SSPC 62.1
CoSponsor: Environmental Health Committee
Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), such as phthalates, organophosphates and siloxanes, are contaminants of emerging concern. Such chemicals are widely used as plasticizers, insecticides and flame retardants in building materials and consumer products used in households, such as antiperspirants, skin- and hair-care products, cosmetics and detergents. SVOCs are becoming more of a concern due to their widespread usage and potential health effects, such as endocrine disruption and cancer. The health effects of a specific SVOC depend on its chemical nature and the degree of exposure, which can occur through a combination of ingestion, respiration and skin absorption.
1 Emission and Transport of Phthalates in Indoor Environments
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Ying Xu, Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin |
Phthalates have been used pervasively as plasticizers in consumer products and building materials. These semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) are ubiquitous in indoor environments. We developed a novel, rapid, small-chamber method to measure phthalate emissions. The mechanisms governing emissions of phthalates from polymeric materials were further elucidated through systematic chamber studies. We then extended the mechanistic understanding of emissions to an actual indoor environment through a fate and transport model and assessed the exposure of building occupants.
2 SVOC Transport in the Vicinity of Human Body
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Donghyun Rim, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University |
Many semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) including phthalates and PAHs have been linked to adverse health effects such as endocrine disruption and cancer. Due to widespread use of synthetically produced plasticizers, insecticides, and flame retardant indoors, large amounts of SVOCs persist indoors for relatively long periods (>1 yr). This study investigates inhalation vs. dermal uptake to human surface considering air flow and SVOC transport in the vicinity of a human body. Using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of pollutant dynamics around a human body, breathing zone concentrations and SVOC uptake by human surface were estimated for an occupant in ventilated room.
3 Contaminants of Emerging Concern: Siloxanes and Indoor Air Quality
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Chang-Seo Lee, Ph.D., Concordia University |
Siloxanes are common ingredients in consumer products like antiperspirants, skin and hair care products, cosmetics and detergents, and are being promoted as green dry cleaning solvents to replace toxic chlorinated solvents. The wide applications have caused elevated concentrations of siloxanes in our environments, and the indoor levels are usually much higher than outdoor air. Some siloxanes are regarded as potential endocrine disrupting compounds. The sources, indoor and outdoor air concentrations, and the health and environmental effects of siloxanes will be presented and future research needs will be discussed.