Phthalates in diapers: Assessment of dermal exposure of babies and environmental phthalate release

In the current study the presence of selected phthalates in diapers used in Türkiye and release of phthalates through baby diapers into waste disposal sites were investigated. Targeted phthalates were analyzed in three different layers of a total of 39 diaper samples sold in the Turkish market. Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), Diethyl phthalate (DEP) and Di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) were detected in all three layers of diapers. Based on the results obtained, diaper-originated dermal exposure of babies (0-2.5 years) to phthalates and environmental phthalate loading amounts due to disposal of diapers were calculated. Deterministic and probabilistic risk assessment showed that MOE and MOE_total values were higher than 1000, indicating that exposure to the phthalates detected in these diapers did not pose a risk for babies. Additionally, the amount of phthalates loading due to the disposal of diapers to the environment ranges from 13.0 to 407 kg year^-1 depending on the diaper brand. Based on the estimated number of newborns and infants, the highest phthalate release was estimated to be in Istanbul province (71.6 kg year^-1), while, the lowest phthalate release was estimated to be in Tunceli province (0.011 kg year^-1).