Phthalates are volatile, endocrine disrupting compounds used as plasticizers in varying types of plastics. As phthalates are not covalently bonded to these plastics, they have the potential to leach out and volatilize into the atmosphere and become associated with airborne particles. Endocrine disruptors, when inhaled, have the ability to cause adverse effects in the body, making the inhalation of phthalates in high concentrations a concerning matter. It is suspected that seasonality could play a role in phthalate concentration in the atmosphere due to change in weather. The goal of this research is to help further determine the risk that phthalates pose on people, with regard to inhalation rates of phthalates from the atmosphere. Air particulate samples were collected approximately every six days for 24 hours beginning in August of 2022 via an Environmental Federal Reference Monitor (EFRM). The phthalates were extracted from the filters using sonication and solid phase extraction. The samples were then analyzed for 15 phthalates using Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry. Of the 15 phthalates, seven have been detected in at least one or more samples, with di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and di-butoxyethyl phthalate (DBEP) being the most prevalent of the analytes. Future work includes continued sampling through April 2023 and further assessment of the risk of phthalate inhalation.

Assessing the rate of seasonal phthalate inhalation through air sampling in Forest Grove, OR

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