US EPA

3520009 

Journal Article 

Phthalate esters on hands of office workers: Estimating the influence of touching surfaces 

Shi, Wei; Guo, J; Zhou, Y; Deng, D; Han, Z; Zhang, X; Yu, H; Giesy, JP 

2017 

1 

Environmental Science & Technology Letters
EISSN: 2328-8930 

American Chemical Society 

WASHINGTON 

4 

1 

1-5 

English 

10.1021/acs.estlett.6b00458 

WOS:000391911500001 

https://search.proquest.com/docview/2067246039?accountid=171501
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Phthalate esters (PAEs) are known to be transferred to hands by contact with surfaces, however, little is known about the associations between masses on hand wipes and the frequency or duration of touching surfaces, especially surfaces in office environments. Relationships between PAEs on hands and multiple surfaces in offices were investigated. Wipes of hands, computers, and mobile phones as well as dust on furniture were collected from SS offices in China. Positive associations were found between masses of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DnBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), and di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP) on wipes of hands and wipes of keyboards of computers. When workers used keyboards with polymer covers (dust covers), masses of these lipophilic PAEs on hands were significantly correlated with masses on keyboards rather than dust on furniture, For workers who used keyboards without polymer covers, masses on hands were related to masses in dust on furniture. Use of polymer covers containing PAEs and less washing of hands could increase the extent of exposure via hand to body of office workers, which could further result in as much as 10-fold greater hazard. Thus, more hand washing and less use of polymer products containing PAEs were recommended for office workers to reduce exposure. 

article; computers; dibutyl phthalate; environmental science; furniture; hand washing; keyboards; lipophilicity; office workers; polymers; washing