From Buildings to the Environment: Flows, Exposure Pathways, and Toxicological Relevance of...

The use of hazardous chemicals in construction materials raises concerns regarding their release into the environment and their potential impact on ecosystems and human health. This study investigated the flows of tris(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) phosphate (TCPP), diuron, and bis(2-(perfluorohexyl)ethyl) phosphate (6:2 diPAP) from buildings to environmental compartments and evaluated their toxicological relevance through environmental occurrence and exposure pathways. A quantitative substance flow analysis was performed for TCPP, while conceptual flow models were developed for diuron and 6:2 diPAP. TCPP flow analysis showed that approximately 70,804 t/year accumulated in products, primarily rigid polyurethane insulation materials, alongside continuous environmental releases into indoor dust, soils, and aquatic systems. It resulted in annual accumulation of nearly 444 t of TCPP in soils and 64 t in aquatic systems. Diuron was identified as a source of aquatic exposure through rainfall-driven wash-off, whereas 6:2 diPAP exhibited indoor and outdoor emission pathways and transformation into persistent perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids. Field measurements of Interreg NonHazCity3 project confirmed the occurrence of organophosphate esters, biocides, and PFAS in indoor dust, stormwater, and wastewater. The results demonstrate that buildings act as continuous sources of toxicologically relevant substances, pointing to the necessity of upstream source control, the prevention of regrettable chemical substitution, and enhanced transparency in construction materials to mitigate long-term environmental and health risks.