Monitoring of paraben compounds in indoor and outdoor air of a populated city

Detection of paraben compounds in numerous human biological samples and their association with many health disorders imply that the humans can be exposed to parabens in many ways. Although many researchers have studied dermal and oral exposures to parabens, a few of them have considered indoor and outdoor air as a source for human exposure to these compounds. Therefore, this study was conducted to monitor the indoor and outdoor air concentrations of parabens in different places and age groups in Isfahan, Iran. For this purpose, ten sites were selected to determine four parabens in indoor and outdoor air simultaneously. Sampling was carried out using a polyurethane foam (PUF) tube connected to a SKC pump operating at a flow rate of 10 L/min. Parabens desorption from PUF, their extraction from solvents and their analysis were performed using methanol/water solvents, ultrasonic-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid and micro-extraction (DLLME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS), respectively. Results showed a significant difference among MePB (p = 0.002), EtPB (p = 0.001), PrPB (p = 0.001) and BuPB (p = 0.013) concentrations in indoor and outdoor air. Moreover, the lowest and the highest concentrations of MePB (0.36 and 0.63 ng/m(3)), EtPB (0.31 and 0.65, ng/m(3)), PrPB (0.64 and 1.07 ng/m(3)) and BuPB (0.0 and 0.21 ng/m(3)) were detected in green spaces and barbershops. The infants and children (6-8 years) were found to be exposed to the highest risk of indoor air. The obtained results can provide a basis for future indoor and outdoor air quality studies.

Automated summary

This study investigated the concentrations of parabens in indoor and outdoor air in different locations and age groups in Isfahan, Iran, showing significant differences in the concentrations and the lowest levels detected in green spaces and barbershops. Infants and children were found to be at the highest risk of exposure to indoor air. These results can serve as a basis for future indoor and outdoor air quality studies.