Please cite this article in press as: Fromme, H., et al., Alkylsulfonic acid phenylesters (ASEs, Mesamoll ® ) in dust samples of German residences and daycare centers (LUPE 3). Int. J. Hyg. Environ. Health (2016), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2016.12.009 ARTICLE IN PRESS G Model IJHEH-13026; No. of Pages 5 International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health xxx (2016) xxx–xxx Contents lists available at ScienceDirect International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ijheh Alkylsulfonic acid phenylesters (ASEs, Mesamoll ® ) in dust samples of German residences and daycare centers (LUPE 3) Hermann Fromme a,e,∗ , Jan Schwarzbauer b , Thomas Lahrz c , Martin Kraft d , Ludwig Fembacher a a Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Department of Chemical Safety and Toxicology, Pfarrstrasse 3, D-80538 Munich, Germany b Institute of Geology and Geochemistry of Petroleum and Coal, RWTH Aachen, Lochnerstrasse 4-20, D-52056 Aachen, Germany c Berlin-Brandenburg State Laboratory, Department of Environmental Health Protection, Invalidenstr.60, D-10557 Berlin, Germany d North Rhine-Westphalia State Agency for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection, D-45659 Recklinghausen, Germany e Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Ziemssenstrasse 1, D-80336 Munich, Germany a r t i c l e i n f o Article history: Received 30 September 2016 Received in revised form 20 December 2016 Accepted 21 December 2016 Keywords: ASE Mesamoll Dust Exposure Daycare center Residence a b s t r a c t For decades, plasticizers have been produced in high quantities to improve the flexibility and durability of products. One possible replacement product is alkylsulfonic acid phenylesters (ASEs), marketed as Mesamoll ® . This study aimed to quantify the ASE dust contamination of residences and daycare centers to obtain insight into the recent exposure situation. ASEs were quantified in dust samples collected from 25 residences and 25 daycare centers using GC/MS measurements. Median (95th percentile) values of the sum of tetra- to heptadecylphenylesters are higher in day- care centers, with a value of 19.6 mg/kg (216 mg/kg), compared to residences, with a value of 7.6 mg/kg (171 mg/kg). A daily non-dietary intake of 0.08 and 0.86 g/kg b.w., respectively, was observed using the median and 95th percentile values obtained from dust samples. These levels are 1250 and 115 times below a previously set temporary tolerable daily intake value. Nevertheless, the fact that basic data on toxicity and exposure via other pathways are limited or unavailable at present has to be considered. © 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction Plasticizers have been produced in high quantities and used for decades in various applications and products, especially in the pro- duction of soft polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and other polymers, such as polyurethanes and rubber, to improve their flexibility and durabil- ity. On a global scale, approximately six million tons of plasticizers are consumed each year, with European consumption accounting for approximately one million tons (ECPI, 2014). Based on toxicological concerns and restrictions of different dialkyl ortho-phthalates, other plasticizers, such as di-isononyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH), adipates, trimellitates, and citrates, have been increasingly used in recent years. One other possible replacement product is alkylsulfonic acid phenylester ∗ Corresponding author at: Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Depart- ment of Chemical Safety and Toxicology, Pfarrstrasse 3, D-80538 Munich, Germany. E-mail address: hermann.fromme@lgl.bayern.de (H. Fromme). (ASE) (CAS No. 91082-17-6), its chemical structure is given Fig. 1. ASEs, although previously uncommon, have been used in PVC for more than 60 years (Haslam et al., 1951). Using data from one pro- ducer 10,000 to 100,000 annual tons have been produced in Europe during the 1990s, mainly for so-called “sensitive applications”, such as medical tubing, children’s toys, and food-contact materials, but also as a substitute for other PVC-containing products (ECB, 2008; EFSA, 2009). Currently, ASE is marketed by Lanxess Deutschland GmbH under the product names Mesamoll ® or Mesamoll II ® . ASE is in liquid form at ambient temperature, has a low water solubility, and a low volatility (Maag et al., 2010). ASEs have low acute tox- icity, and a 90-day subchronic feeding study with rats showed an impact on the liver and body weight (Maag et al., 2010). In a one- generation study, effects on the liver and kidney were observed in the F1 generation as were prolonged developmental milestones (EFSA, 2009). In a study on rats, 20–30% of the parent compound was excreted via feces within 24 h, and the half-life in fat tissue was 8 and 15 days after single or repeated oral application (ECHA, 2013). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2016.12.009 1438-4639/© 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.