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Environ Int

Title:		Chemical exposures in recently renovated low-income housing: Influence of building materials and occupant activities
Author(s):		Dodson RE; Udesky JO; Colton MD; McCauley M; Camann DE; Yau AY; Adamkiewicz G; Rudel RA;
Address:		"Silent Spring Institute, 320 Nevada Street, Newton, MA 02460, USA. Electronic address: dodson@silentspring.org. Silent Spring Institute, 320 Nevada Street, Newton, MA 02460, USA. Electronic address: udesky@silentspring.org. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA 02215, USA. Battelle Memorial Institute, 505 King Ave., Columbus, OH 43201, USA. Southwest Research Institute, P.O. Drawer 28510, San Antonio, TX 78228, USA. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA 02215, USA. Electronic address: gadamkie@hsph.harvard.edu. Silent Spring Institute, 320 Nevada Street, Newton, MA 02460, USA. Electronic address: rudel@silentspring.org"
Journal Title:		Environ Int
Year:		2017
Volume:		20170912
Issue:
Page Number:		114 - 127
DOI:		10.1016/j.envint.2017.07.007
ISSN/ISBN:		1873-6750 (Electronic) 0160-4120 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Health disparities in low-income communities may be linked to residential exposures to chemicals infiltrating from the outdoors and characteristics of and sources in the home. Indoor sources comprise those introduced by the occupant as well as releases from building materials. To examine the impact of renovation on indoor pollutants levels and to classify chemicals by predominant indoor sources, we collected indoor air and surface wipes from newly renovated 'green' low-income housing units in Boston before and after occupancy. We targeted nearly 100 semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including phthalates, flame retardants, fragrance chemicals, pesticides, antimicrobials, petroleum chemicals, chlorinated solvents, and formaldehyde, as well as particulate matter. All homes had indoor air concentrations that exceeded available risk-based screening levels for at least one chemical. We categorized chemicals as primarily influenced by the occupant or as having building-related sources. While building-related chemicals observed in this study may be specific to the particular housing development, occupant-related findings might be generalizable to similar communities. Among 58 detected chemicals, we distinguished 25 as primarily occupant-related, including fragrance chemicals 6-acetyl-1,1,2,4,4,7-hexamethyltetralin (AHTN) and 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta[g]-2-benzopyran (HHCB). The pre- to post-occupancy patterns of the remaining chemicals suggested important contributions from building materials for some, including dibutyl phthalate and xylene, whereas others, such as diethyl phthalate and formaldehyde, appeared to have both building and occupant sources. Chemical classification by source informs multi-level exposure reduction strategies in low-income housing"
Keywords:		"Adolescent Adult Aged Air Pollutants/*analysis Air Pollution, Indoor/*adverse effects Boston Construction Materials/*analysis Female Health Status Disparities *Housing Humans Male Middle Aged Particulate Matter/analysis Poverty Risk Volatile Organic Compo;"
Notes:		"MedlineDodson, Robin E Udesky, Julia O Colton, Meryl D McCauley, Martha Camann, David E Yau, Alice Y Adamkiewicz, Gary Rudel, Ruthann A eng Netherlands 2017/09/17 Environ Int. 2017 Dec; 109:114-127. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2017.07.007. Epub 2017 Sep 12"