A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of California Riverside has revealed that Southern Californians are regularly exposed to toxic airborne chemicals known as plasticizers. These compounds, which are used to make materials more flexible, can be found in a wide variety of everyday products such as lunchboxes, shower curtains, garden hoses, and upholstery. The study, published in the journal Environmental Research, showed that both ortho-phthalates, which have been phased out due to health and environmental concerns, and their replacements, called non-ortho-phthalates, were present in the air throughout Southern California at alarmingly high levels. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has also highlighted this study in their newsletter, Environmental Factor, to raise awareness about the presence of phthalates in urban environments.
To investigate the presence of these plasticizers in the air, the researchers tracked two groups of undergraduate students commuting from different parts of Southern California. The students wore silicone wristbands designed to collect data on chemical exposures for five days in 2019 and five days in 2020. The researchers then analyzed the chemicals collected in the wristbands, revealing high levels of DiNP, DEHP, and DEHT, among other plasticizers. These chemicals, which are known to cause cancer, birth defects, and other reproductive harm, were found to be at similar levels to those found in studies on the East Coast, suggesting that airborne phthalates are ubiquitous across different regions.
The study also found that the longer a student’s commute, the higher their exposure to TDCIPP, a flame retardant and known carcinogen. Unlike TDCIPP, which likely originates from car seats, the origin of the plasticizers found in the air could not be pinpointed. Since these chemicals are airborne, they could have been picked up anywhere, even outside the students’ cars. Despite efforts to introduce DEHT as an alternative to other phthalates, the study suggests that this has not significantly reduced public exposure to DiNP or DEHP. With plasticizers leaching out into the environment and into the human body as plastics degrade, the researchers emphasize the need to find alternatives to plastics to reduce the concentration of these harmful chemicals in the air.
Overall, the study highlights the need to address the pervasive and persistent exposure of individuals to plasticizer chemicals, regardless of their location or daily activities. To Environmental Sciences Professor David Volz, who led the study, reducing the production and consumption of materials containing plasticizers is the key to decreasing their concentration in the air. With phthalates being present in a wide range of consumer products, from everyday household items to children’s products and beauty supplies, the findings of this study underscore the urgency of finding safer alternatives and raising awareness about the health risks associated with exposure to plasticizers in the air.