The internal exposure of phthalate metabolites and bisphenols in waste incineration plant workers and the associated health risks

• Published in: Environment international Vol. 145; no. C; p. 106101
• Main Authors: Lu, Shaoyou, Yang, Dongfeng, Ge, Xiang, Li, Le, Zhao, Yang, Li, Chun, Ma, Shengtao, Yu, Yingxin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2020; Elsevier
• Subjects: Bisphenols; China; Diethylhexyl Phthalate; Environmental Exposure - analysis; Health risk assessment; Humans; Incineration; Municipal solid waste incineration; Phthalate metabolites; Phthalic Acids; Urine; China; Urine; Health risk assessment; Municipal solid waste incineration; Bisphenols; Phthalate metabolites
• ISSN: 0160-4120; 1873-6750
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106101

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•Urinary mPAE levels in workers were significantly higher than those in controls.•PAE exposure of workers was related to MSW incineration emission while BPs were not.•mMP and mEP might be potential markers for MSW incineration emission.•No significant differences were found in workers in different types of workshops.•70.8% workers were at low non-cancer risks from PAEs with DEHP being the highest.
Many hazardous substances can be released during incineration of municipal solid waste (MSW), which pose a potential threat to human health. As additives, phthalates (PAEs) and bisphenols (BPs), which are widely used in daily goods, are likely to be present in the released hazardous substances. In the present study, we investigated the urinary levels of phthalate metabolites (mPAEs) and BPs in workers in an MSW incineration plant (the exposed group) and in residents 8 km away (the control group) in Shenzhen, China. The results showed that the median total urinary concentration of mPAEs in workers was significantly higher than that in residents (1.02 × 103 vs. 375 ng/mL). However, there was no significant difference between workers and residents for BPs. Among the mPAEs measured, the most abundant compound was mono-n-butyl phthalate in both exposed and control groups. Monoethyl phthalate and monomethyl phthalate might be potential markers for MSW incineration because of significantly high levels in the exposed group. The workers engaged in different types of workshops showed no significant differences in the urinary levels of mPAEs, also for BPs. It was worth noting that 70.8% of workers were at risk of the non-carcinogenic effects caused by PAEs with diethylhexyl phthalate having the highest risk. Actions should be taken to reduce the risks caused by these hazardous chemicals.