Concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances in the dust of Japanese households and buildings; Implications for human exposure
By Yuiko Fukuman, Masato Honda, and Edward G. Nagato
Atmos. Pollut. Res.
June 1, 2026
DOI: 10.1016/j.apr.2026.103075
While there are many routes of exposure for polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), such as through drinking water and diet, dust remains one of the major routes for humans. Here, the concentrations of PFAS were examined in the indoor environment from samples taken from the buildings of a local university (n = 43) and from surrounding residential households (n = 15). 11 PFCAs and 8 PFSAs were analyzed by LC-MS/MS and the resulting PFAS concentrations were used to calculate estimated daily exposures via dust ingestion. The main PFAS found at both sites were PFOS, PFOA and PFNA; this despite the former two having been phased out of use in Japan. There are more PFAS in the indoor dust of public buildings compared to households, with relative ƩPFAS of 169.7 ng/g and 10.2 ng/g respectively. The predominant PFAS detected was PFNA, the nine carbon chain congener, which may have been a replacement for the now phased out PFOA and PFOS. In general, the number of PFAS detected in this study are comparatively fewer and the concentrations lower than previously reported, suggesting that there may be an attenuation in the PFAS concentrations found in Japanese households. Estimated daily intake (EDI) for adults occupying the indoor environments at both sites were 1.0 x 10−2 and 3.8 x 10−1 ng/kg bw/day for median and worst case scenarios. For toddlers and infants occupying only the households, the EDI values for median concentrations were 3.2 x 10−2 ng/kg bw/day and 3.1 x 10−2 ng/kg bw/day respectively.
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