Occurrence of bisphenols, bisphenol A diglycidyl ethers (BADGEs), and novolac glycidyl ethers (NOGEs) in indoor air from Albany, New York, USA, and its implications for inhalation exposure

• Eight bisphenols and 11 BADGE derivatives were determined in 83 indoor air samples.
• BPA, BPF, BPS and BADGE·2H2O were found at mean GM concentrations of 0.43, 0.69, 0.09 and 0.28 ng m−3, respectively.
• Highest BADGE·2H20 and bisphenols concentrations were found in auto repair shops and cars, respectively.
• GM inhalation intake of bisphenols in adults was 0.37 ng kg bw−1 day−1 and that for BADGEs was 0.26 ng kg bw−1·day−1.

Bisphenols, bisphenol A diglycidyl ethers (BADGEs), and novolac glycidyl ethers (NOGEs) are used in the production of epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics. Despite the widespread application of these chemicals in household products, studies on their occurrence in indoor air are limited. In this study, 83 indoor air samples were collected in 2014 from various locations in Albany, New York, USA, to determine the concentrations of bisphenols, BADGEs (refer to BADGE and its derivatives), and NOGEs (refer to NOGE and its derivatives) and to calculate inhalation exposure to these compounds. Among eight bisphenols measured, BPA, BPF, and BPS were found in bulk air (i.e., vapor plus particulate phases), at geometric mean (GM) concentrations of 0.43, 0.69 and 0.09 ng m−3, respectively. Among 11 BADGEs and NOGEs determined, BADGE·2H2O was the predominant compound found in indoor air (detection rate [DR]: 85.5%), at concentrations as high as 6.71 ng m−3. Estimation of inhalation exposure to these chemicals for various age groups showed that teenagers had the highest exposure doses to BPA, BPF, BPS, and BADGE·2H2O at 5.91, 9.48, 1.24, and 3.84 ng day−1, respectively. The body weight-normalized estimates of exposure were the highest for infants, with values at 0.24, 0.39, 0.05, and 0.16 ng kg bw−1 day−1 for BPA, BPF, BPS, and BADGE·2H2O, respectively. This is the first survey to report inhalation exposure to bisphenols, BADGEs, and NOGEs.