Phthalates in children's intimate clothing: occurrence, accumulation, source analysis, and partitioning

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Toxicology
• Consumer Product Safety

Background:

• Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are widely used plasticizers in textiles, raising concerns about human exposure, especially in children's apparel.
• Children's intimate apparel can accumulate PAEs from manufacturing and indoor environments, necessitating an understanding of contamination levels and exposure pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine background concentrations of PAEs in children's intimate apparel.
• To investigate PAE accumulation on clothing under indoor conditions and identify sources.
• To quantify PAE partitioning between gas-phase, clothing, and skin to assess clothing's protective role.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of PAE concentrations in six types of children's clothing.
• Controlled indoor accumulation experiments and washing procedures.
• Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) for source apportionment.
• Partitioning experiments using a clothed child dummy.

Main Results:

• High background PAE levels (0.655–28.0 µg g^-1) found, particularly in vests, shorts, and socks.
• Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di(2-n-butoxyethyl) phthalate (DBEP) were the most abundant PAEs.
• Indoor objects/surfaces identified as dominant PAE sources; synthetic fibers enhanced accumulation, while cotton provided a barrier effect.
• Clothing significantly reduced PAE transfer to underlying skin, confirming its protective function.

Conclusions:

• Children's intimate apparel can be a significant reservoir for PAEs, with indoor environments as a key source.
• Clothing material influences PAE accumulation and transfer, with cotton offering better protection than synthetics.
• Understanding PAE partitioning is crucial for assessing exposure risks and the efficacy of protective clothing.