Evaluating predictors of chemical exposures in offices world-wide using silicone wristbands
Principal Investigator: Dr. Anna Young and Dr. Joseph G. Allen
Chemicals in consumer products and building materials are rarely tested for safety, disclosed to consumers, or restricted by governments. When manufacturers phase out widely publicized toxic chemicals, they often simply swap in other similarly structured chemicals that can be just as toxic. Flame retardants (FRs), fluorinated stain repellants, and phthalate plasticizers are three common chemical classes found in indoor environments that are often ‘regrettably substituted’ and can impact hormone disruption, pregnancy success, fetal development, immune function, and cancer risk. To evaluate chemical exposures in everyday office buildings around the world, we will have 270 participants from 35 buildings in the U.S., U.K., China, and India wear silicone wristbands for four consecutive days during work hours. These wristbands passively collect chemicals from the air and products used. Participants will also answer daily surveys about product use, furniture, activities, clothing types, smoking habits, and packaged food use. We will also collect information on indoor air quality, ventilation, green building certifications, and country regulations of chemicals. The wristbands will be analyzed for 90 semi-volatile chemicals including FRs, stain repellants, and phthalates. We will evaluate predictors of chemical exposures in global offices and will assess best practices for using wristbands as samplers in studies.
Products resulting from Hoffman support
Young AS, Herkert N, Stapleton HM, Coull BA, Hauser R, Zoeller T, Behnisch PA, Felzel E, Brouwer A, Allen JG. Hormone receptor activities of complex mixtures of known and suspect chemicals in personal silicone wristband samplers worn in office buildings. Chemosphere. 2023 Feb;315:137705. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137705. Epub 2022 Dec 30. PMID: 36592838; PMCID: PMC9937064.
Young AS, Herkert N, Stapleton HM, Cedeño Laurent JG, Jones ER, MacNaughton P, Coull BA, James-Todd T, Hauser R, Luna ML, Chung YS, Allen JG. Chemical contaminant exposures assessed using silicone wristbands among occupants in office buildings in the USA, UK, China, and India. Environ Int. 2021 Nov;156:106727. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106727. Epub 2021 Jul 19. PMID: 34425641; PMCID: PMC8409466.