Phthalic esters in the indoor environment - Test chamber studies on PVC-coated wallcoverings

Phthalic acid esters are important additives in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pr oducts. Since PVC plastisoles for the production of wallcoverings contain a bout 30% phthalic acid esters, it is a crucial question whether these produ cts can contribute to the pollution of the indoor environment. In this stud y, the emission of several technically relevant phthalates from PVC-coated wallcoverings were measured in emission test chambers under standard room c onditions. During a 14-day test period, both the chamber air concentrations and the condensation on a cooled plate (fogging) were determined. In the c hamber air, maximum concentrations of 5.1 mug/ml for di-n-butvlphthalate (D BP), 2.08 mug/m(3) for di-pentylphthalate (DPP) and 0.94 mug/m(3) for di-(2 -ethythexyl)phthalate (DEHP) were found. After 14 days of exposure, up to 6 0.4 mug DEHP and 17.7 mug DPP could be quantified on the cooled plates of t he fogging apparatus. The amounts of DBP and DIBP were significantly lower. A simple exposure calculation indicated no specific risk of an increased p hthalate exposure in rooms with PVC wallcoverings.