Neutral polyfluorinated compounds in indoor air in Germany – The LUPE 4 study

• We determined volatile PFCs in indoor air of residences and schools in Germany.
• We presented for the first time data for schools.
• Daily non-dietary exposures were in the lower ng/kg b.w. for children.
• Inhalation was the dominant intake pathway for fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs).
• Only minor amounts of PFOA originate from 8:2 FTOH using non-dietary intake data.

Perfluoroalkyl- and polyfluoroalkyl-substances (PFAS) have been detected in many types of environmental media and biota including humans. We determined volatile PFAS, including fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), fluorotelomer acrylates (FTACs), perfluorooctane sulfonamides (FOSAs), and perfluorooctane sulfonamidoethanols (FOSEs), in indoor air of residences and schools in Germany.FTOHs, FTACs, FOSEs, and FOSAs were quantified with median levels in schools (in residences) of 11,783 pg/m3 (13,198 pg/m3), 737 pg/m3 (450 pg/m3), 130 pg/m3 (278 pg/m3), and 243 pg/m3 (110 pg/m3), respectively.Using our data and previously published results in a simplified model based on the medians and 95th percentiles, the “typical” and “high” daily non-dietary exposures were calculated to be 4.2 ng/kg body weight (9.9 ng/kg b.w.) for Σ-FTOHs and 0.1 ng/kg b.w. (0.8 ng/kg b.w.) for Σ-FOSEs/FOSAs in children. Inhalation was the dominant intake pathway for FTOHs; however, dust ingestion contributed significantly to the total intake of FOSEs/FOSAs.In organisms, 8:2 FTOH is degraded to perfluorooctanoate (PFOA). Assuming that 1% of 8:2 FTOH is converted to PFOA, 8:2 FTOH exposure in Germany has a negligible contribution to the total daily PFOA exposure, which is mainly driven by dietary intake.