A pilot study on semivolatile organic compounds in senior care facilities: Implications for older adult exposures

Abstract

The occurrence of five groups of semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) (total of similar to 120 distinct chemicals) was investigated in senior care facilities in the United States and in Portugal. Indoor settled dust samples were collected from fourteen facilities, and the concentrations of organophosphate esters (OPEs), brominated flame retardants (BFRs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in these samples. Overall, OPEs, PAHs, and BFRs were the most abundant, and OCPs and PCBs were the least abundant SVOC groups in dust collected from both U.S. and Portuguese facilities. Sigma OPE, Sigma PAH, and Sigma BFR concentrations were significantly higher in U.S. facilities than those in Portuguese facilities (P < 0.001), while Sigma OCP and Sigma PCB concentrations were not different between the two countries (P < 0.05). The samples were collected from three different microenvironments, including bedrooms, living rooms, and corridors. Sigma OPE, Sigma PAH, and Sigma BFR concentrations were up to five times higher in corridors compared to bedrooms and living rooms. Sigma OCP and Sigma PCB concentrations were overall higher in bedrooms and in living rooms and lower in corridors. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.