Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in airborne particulate matter (PM2.0) emitted during floor waxing: A pilot study

Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), with their water- and heat-resistant properties, have been widely used in industrial and consumer products, including floor waxes. Adverse health effects are associated with PFAS exposures (e.g., increased risk of cancer and immunotoxicity); however, exposures resulting from the use of PFAS-containing products are poorly understood. This study examines PFAS emissions during professional floor stripping/waxing and their potential for occupational exposures. We measured PFASs in dust and airborne particulate matter (PM2.0, aerodynamic diameter & LE;2.0 mu m) before, during, and after floor stripping/ waxing activities in three rooms in a university building. PM2.0 samples were analyzed for 34 targeted PFASs by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (UHPLC/ESI-MS/MS). In total, ten PFASs were detected in PM2.0 collected during floor stripping/waxing. Five were consistently higher during floor stripping/waxing compared to before (two with 95% confidence interval): perfluoro-2-methoxyacetic acid, perfluorobutanoic acid, perfluorohexanoic acid, perfluoroheptanoic acid, and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid. For these five, estimated exposures during floor stripping were 80.6, 320.5, 83.8, 29.6, and 157.7 pg m(-3) per hour of floor stripping, respectively, one order of magnitude greater than typical residential indoor and two orders of magnitude greater than ambient outdoor concentrations. Estimated emission rates were 3.0, 9.6, 3.4, 1.5, and 6.5 ng h(-1)m(-2), respectively (34.6% uncertainty). Inhalation occupational exposures were in the range of 9.42-23.2 pg per kg body weight per hour of floor stripping across the five PFASs.

Automated summary

This study investigated the emission of PFASs during floor stripping/waxing activities and their potential occupational exposures. The study found that concentrations of five PFASs in the air were significantly higher during floor stripping/waxing compared to before, and were one order of magnitude higher than typical indoor and outdoor concentrations. These results imply that floor stripping activities may lead to occupational PFAS exposures.