Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
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Phthalate Exposure Levels and Related Factors in the Urban Low-Income Group: Focus on a Residential Disadvantaged Community

도시 저소득층의 프탈레이트 노출수준과 관련 요인: 거주 취약집단을 중심으로

  • Dahee, Han (Institute for Environmental Health, Seokyeong University) ;
  • Jiyun, Kang (Department of Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology) ;
  • Seohui, Han (Department of Nano Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seokyeong University) ;
  • Su Hyeon, Kim (Department of Nano Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seokyeong University) ;
  • Hohyun, Jin (Department of Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology) ;
  • Chahun, Kim (Department of Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology) ;
  • Hosub, Im (Institute for Life & Environmental Technology, Smartive Corporation) ;
  • Ki-Tae, Kim (Department of Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology) ;
  • Yong Min, Cho (Institute for Environmental Health, Seokyeong University)
  • 한다희 (서경대학교 환경보건연구소) ;
  • 강지윤 (서울과학기술대학교 환경공학과) ;
  • 한서희 (서경대학교 나노화학생명공학과) ;
  • 김수현 (서경대학교 나노화학생명공학과) ;
  • 진호현 (서울과학기술대학교 환경공학과) ;
  • 김차훈 (서울과학기술대학교 환경공학과) ;
  • 임호섭 (주식회사 스마티브 생명환경연구소) ;
  • 김기태 (서울과학기술대학교 환경공학과) ;
  • 조용민 (서경대학교 환경보건연구소)
  • Received : 2022.11.08
  • Accepted : 2022.12.20
  • Published : 2022.12.31
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Abstract

Background: Socioeconomical disadvantaged communities are more vulnerable to environmental chemical exposure and associated health effects. However, there is limited information on chemical exposure among vulnerable populations in Korea. Objectives: This study investigated chemical exposure among underprivileged populations. We measured urinary metabolites of phthalates in urban disadvantaged communities and investigated their correlations with residential environment factors and relative socioeconomic vulnerability. Methods: Urine samples were collected from 64 residents in a disadvantaged community in Seoul. A total of eight phthalate metabolites were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Analytical method used by the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) was employed. Covariate variance analysis and general linear regression adjusted with age, sex and smoking were performed. Results: Several phthalate metabolites, namely monomethyl phthalate (MMP), monoethyl phthalate (MEP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), and mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP) had higher levels than those reported in the adults of 4th KoNEHS. Notably, the MnBP level was higher in the lower socioeconomic group (geometric mean [GM]=47.3 ㎍/g creatinine) compared to non-recipients (GM=31.9 ㎍/g creatinine) and the national reference level (GM=22.0, 28.2 and 32.2 ㎍/g creatinine for adults, 60's and 70's, respectively.). When age, sex and smoking were adjusted, MEP and MnBP were significantly increased the lower socioeconomic group than non-recipients (p=0.014, p=0.023). The lower socioeconomic group's age of flooring were higher than non-recipients, not statistically significant. Conclusions: These results suggest that a relatively low income and aged flooring could be considered as risk factors for increased levels of phthalate metabolites in socioeconomic vulnerable populations.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

이 논문은 2020년도 정부(교육부)의 재원으로 한국연구재단의 지원을 받아 수행된 기초연구사업입니다(NRF-2020R1A6A1A03042742). 또한 이 논문은 환경부의 재원으로 한국환경산업기술원의 환경성질환 예방관리 핵심 기술개발사업의 지원을 받아 연구되었습니다(2021003320003).

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