The effect of reduction measures on concentrations of hazardous semivolatile organic compounds in indoor air and dust of Swedish preschools

Journal article, 2021

Young children spend a substantial part of their waking time in preschools. It is thereforeimportant to reduce the load of hazardous semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in thepreschools’ indoor environment. The presence and levels of five SVOC groups were evaluated(1) in a newly built preschool, (2) before and after renovation of a preschool, and (3)in a preschool where SVOC-containingarticles were removed. The new building and therenovation were performed using construction materials that were approved with respectto content of restricted chemicals. SVOC substance groups were measured in indoor airand settled dust and included phthalates and alternative plasticizers, organophosphate esters(OPEs), brominated flame retardants, and bisphenols. The most abundant substancegroups in both indoor air and dust were phthalates and alternative plasticizers and OPEs.SVOC concentrations were lower or of the same order of magnitude as those reported incomparable studies. The relative Cumulative Hazard Quotient (HQcum) was used to assessthe effects of the different reduction measures on children's SVOC exposure from indoorair and dust in the preschools. HQcum values were low (1.0–6.1%)in all three preschoolsand decreased further after renovation and article substitution. The SVOCs concentrationsdecreased significantly more in the preschool renovated with the approved buildingmaterials than in the preschool where the SVOC-containingarticles were removed.