Estimation of Daily Intake of 2,2,4-Trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol Monoisobutyrate and 2,2,4-Trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol Diisobutyrate in Japanese Children at Home

2,2,4-Trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol monoisobutyrate (TMPD-MB, typical product name: Texanol) and 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol diisobutyrate (TMPD-DB, typical product name: TXIB) are mainly used as a surface stabilizer for water-based paints and adhesives and as a plasticizer, respectively. They are compounds for which the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan is considering formulating guideline values for indoor air concentrations. It has been reported domestically and internationally that these compounds are associated with sick building syndrome and allergic diseases. Knowledge concerning the amounts of these compounds taken into the body is very important in order to prevent the adverse health effects by exposure to them on general population in living environments, but there is almost no information available.<br> In the present study, Japanese 132 children (6 to 15 years old) who were more vulnerable to the effects of chemicals than adults were targeted, and the intake of these compounds through all exposure pathways at home was estimated by measuring their urinary metabolites. The metabolites were found in all of the subjects' urine, suggesting that internal contamination with these compounds was widespread among Japanese children. The daily intake per body weight as TMPD-MB or TMPD-DB was estimated to be approximately 1 μg/kg b.w. as median, and 10 μg/kg b.w. as maximum assuming that the children were at home all day. This was at the same level as those for p-dichlorobenzene, naphthalene and several phthalates in the children at home.<br> The results of this study can be used as useful data for the future researches on exposure-effect assessment and for administrative measures to prevent adverse health hazards by exposure to these compounds.