| Title: | Emission fluxes of styrene monomers and other chemicals for products containing expanded polystyrene beads |
| Author(s): | Iizuka A; Mizukoshi A; Noguchi M; Yamasaki A; |
| Address: | "Center for Mineral Processing and Metallurgy, Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan. Department of Environmental Medicine and Behavioral Science, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osakasayama, Osaka, Japan. Department of Materials and Life Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Seikei University, Musashino, Tokyo, Japan" |
| DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pone.0239458 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1932-6203 (Electronic) 1932-6203 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Styrene in indoor air can adversely affect human health. In this study, styrene monomer and other chemical emission fluxes for products containing expanded polystyrene beads (pillows, cushions, and soft toys) were measured at various temperatures to simulate typical product use. The contributions of the products to styrene and other chemical concentrations in indoor air and human exposure to these chemicals were estimated, and health risk assessments were performed. The styrene monomer emission fluxes for the samples at 25 degrees C were between 25.3 and 8.73x103 mug/(m2 h). The styrene emission fluxes for the product surfaces increased strongly as the temperature increased, from between 124 and 2.44x104 mug/(m2 h) at 36 degrees C (simulating human body temperature) to between 474 and 4.59x104 mug/(m2 h) at 50 degrees C (simulating inside an automobile in summer). The hexane, heptane, toluene, octane, ethylbenzene, m- and p-xylene, o-xylene, and dodecane emission fluxes at 25 degrees C for the sample that emitted the analytes most readily were high. The maximum estimated styrene and xylene concentrations in indoor air caused by emissions from expanded polystyrene beads at 36 degrees C in a bedroom and automobile were higher than the relevant guidelines. The maximum contribution of a product containing expanded polystyrene beads in a living room, bedroom, or automobile could cause the total volatile organic compound concentration in air to exceed the advisable value (400 mug/m3). The estimated maximum hazard quotients for styrene, toluene, and xylene emitted by a product containing expanded polystyrene beads at 36 degrees C in a bedroom were 0.59, 0.30, and 0.37, respectively. These non-carcinogenic risk values for single products could contribute to the non-carcinogenic risk thresholds being exceeded when multiple products and other sources of chemicals are taken into consideration. The estimated styrene concentrations suggest that products containing expanded polystyrene beads are important sources of styrene to indoor air" |
| Keywords: | Air Pollutants/*analysis/chemistry Environmental Monitoring *Microspheres Polystyrenes/*chemistry Styrene/*analysis/chemistry Temperature; |
| Notes: | "MedlineIizuka, Atsushi Mizukoshi, Atsushi Noguchi, Miyuki Yamasaki, Akihiro eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2020/10/02 PLoS One. 2020 Oct 1; 15(10):e0239458. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239458. eCollection 2020" |
