THE INFLUENCE OF THE AIR HUMIDITY ON THE EMISSION OF DI-(2-ETHYLHEXYL) PHTHALATE (DEHP) FROM VINYL FLOORING IN THE EMISSION CELL FLEC

摘要

Asthma in children appears to be associated with both phthalate esters and dampness in buildings. An important question is whether the concentrations of phthalate esters correlate with the dampness (relative humidity) in indoor air. The objective was to study the influence of humidity on the specific emission rate of DEHP from one type of vinyl flooring in the well characterized emission cell FLEC (Field and Laboratory Emission Cell). Vinyl flooring with ca. 17% (w/w) di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) as plasticizer was emission tested in seven FLECs at 23±2°C. FLECs with relative humidities of 10%, 30%, 50% (in triplicate) and 70% were used. In addition, one FLEC was empty in order to monitor the background level of DEHP over time. The background level at time equal to zero was measured in all the FLECs before insertion of the vinyl flooring. The DEHP was sampled on Tenax TA and analyzed with thermal desorption, gas chromatography, and mass spectrometry/flame ionization detection. The concentration of DEHP in all the FLECs does not deviate significantly during 120 days emission testing. Thus, the emission rate of DEHP appears not to be influenced by the relative humidity.