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Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOCs): Phthalates and Phosphorous Frame Retardants and Health Risks

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Indoor Environmental Quality and Health Risk toward Healthier Environment for All

Abstract

Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) are a subgroup of volatile organic compounds that have boiling points of 260 °C–400 °C. They are slowly emitted from source materials and partition among the gas phase, airborne particles, and dust fractions. Phthalates and flame retardants (FRs) are dominant SVOCs in indoor environments. Sources of these compounds and their indoor levels and health risks are discussed herein. Epidemiological and experimental studies have provided consistent evidences of the associations between concentrations of phthalate and asthma and allergies. However, data for internal exposure to phthalates are inconsistent and limited. A few experimental studies have demonstrated the immunocytotoxicity of organophosphorus FRs; however, there is no epidemiological evidence to support this.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan

    Yu Ait Bamai

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  1. Yu Ait Bamai
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Hokkaido University, Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan

    Reiko Kishi

  2. Uppsala University, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden

    Dan Norbäck

  3. Hokkaido University, Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan

    Atsuko Araki

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Ait Bamai, Y. (2020). Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOCs): Phthalates and Phosphorous Frame Retardants and Health Risks. In: Kishi, R., Norbäck, D., Araki, A. (eds) Indoor Environmental Quality and Health Risk toward Healthier Environment for All. Current Topics in Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-32-9182-9_8

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