Receptor-based aggregate exposure assessment of phthalates based on individual's simultaneous use of multiple...

To estimate realistic exposure to a chemical, the aggregate exposure from multiple consumer products should be considered. A receptor-based aggregate exposure assessment was conducted according to individuals' exposure factors and simultaneous use patterns including co-use and non-use. A product-based aggregate exposure assessment was conducted by product usage rates of population and users' exposure factors. Two aggregate exposure assessments were compared. Exposure factors for 31 cosmetic products were collected by face-to-face interviews with 1001 members of the Korean population through national representative sampling. The concentrations of phthalates in 214 cosmetic products were analyzed by GC-MS-MS. The average aggregate exposure dose (AED) determined by the receptor-based method for di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), and diethyl phthalate (DEP) were 0.68 ± 0.87, 1.08 ± 5.71, and 2.47 ± 9.05 μg/kg/day, respectively. The cosmetics that contributed most to the receptor-based AED were skin care and body care products for DEHP, nail care products for DnBP, and fragrance and hair care products for DEP. The young female group showed the highest exposure. The product-based aggregate exposure assessment method underestimated high exposure but overestimated average exposure for DnBP and DEP. The receptor-based aggregate exposure assessment method would be used to determine high exposure groups.