Measuring degree of contamination by semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC) in interiors of Korean homes and kindergartens

PVC floor material is widely used in Korean homes, and people customarily sit or lie on the floor surface. This could potentially put residents of such homes at high risk of exposure to semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs). However, there is a current lack of information regarding the degree of SVOC contamination in Korean homes. Therefore, this study was implemented to measure SVOC concentration in the air and house dust in homes and kindergartens, places where children spend long periods of time. The substances analyzed were 2E1H, D6, DEP, TBP, TCEP, DBP, TPP, DOA, and DEHP. Amounts of 2E1H, D6, DEP, DBP, and DEHP were detected in the air of the homes included in the study, and the average air concentrations of DBP and DEHP were 0.53 μg/m³ and 0.28 μg/m³, respectively. The average dust DEHP concentrations in the rooms of homes and kindergartens were 2,800 μg/g and 4,350 μg/g, respectively, showing that higher values were measured in kindergartens. The measured DEHP concentrations in the dust of both homes and kindergartens where PVC floor materials are used were high.