الملخص الإنجليزي
Phthalates are semi-volatile organic compounds ( SVOC ) that have been used as plasticizers IS in numerous plastic products. However, there has been some concern about the various TU effects they may have on human health. Thus, household phthalate levels are important public health issue. The present study investigated phthalate levels in house dust samples collected from the living rooms of homes, and evaluate the possible correlation between phthalate levels in the house dust and living room characteristic. Two sample types were collected, as floor dust and multi-surface dust. Floor dust samples were collected from the floor surface and multi- surface dust were collected from the surfaces of objects that are more than 35 cm above the floor. The levels of six phthalates were measured using gas chromatography / mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in selective ion monitoring mode. In general, the overall relative abundance of studied.phthalates in Omani houses were in order of DnOP > DBP > DEHP> BBP> DEP > DMP. Phthalate levels were found to be higher in the multi şurface dust than in the floor dust. DnOP was the highest reported phthalate in both floor and multi-surface dust compared with other phthalates with mean value of 269.16 ppm in floor dust and 580.59 ppm in multi-surface dust. DMP was the lowest measured phthalate with a med mean value of 0.446 ppm and 0.614 ppm in floor dust and multi-surface dust respectively. There is no correlation found between the level of phthalates (floor or multi-surface ) and the NU number of plastics materials in the living room, however a weak correlation was detected vever a1 with the cleaning frequencies. The present study provides information on how phthalates inside Omani dwellings are associated with house dust, which can be used in establishing public health guidelines.
