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 therefore
important to reduce the load of hazardous semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in the
preschools’ 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-containing
articles were removed. The new building and the
renovation were performed using construction materials that were approved with respect
to content of restricted chemicals. SVOC substance groups were measured in indoor air
and settled dust and included phthalates and alternative plasticizers, organophosphate esters
(OPEs), brominated flame retardants, and bisphenols. The most abundant substance
groups 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 in
comparable studies. The relative Cumulative Hazard Quotient (HQcum) was used to assess
the effects of the different reduction measures on children's SVOC exposure from indoor
air and dust in the preschools. HQcum values were low (1.0–6.1%)
in all three preschools
and decreased further after renovation and article substitution. The SVOCs concentrations
decreased significantly more in the preschool renovated with the approved building
materials than in the preschool where the SVOC-containing
articles were removed.