Biomonitoring and health risk assessment of exposure to phthalate esters in waste management workers

Humans are at risk of exposure to phthalates due to the widespread use of plasticized plastics, and one of the major concerns is occupational exposure. The present study investigated occupational exposure to phthalates at one of the greatest solid waste management sites in the second-largest country in the Middle East. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks were assessed by human biomonitoring (HBM). The concentration of phthalate esters was determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and the daily intake (DI) of phthalate was calculated based on the adjusted urinary creatinine concentrations. Moreover, carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks were assessed. Monte Carlo simulations were performed for uncertainty and sensitivity analysis. The highest concentration recorded was 130.80 µg/g creatinine for mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP) among the composting group, while the lowest concentration was 0.49 µg/g creatinine for Monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP) among the office group. All estimates of daily intake were below the reference concentration, and differences between the DI at site sections were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The non-carcinogenic risk level was negligible. The excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) values corresponding to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposure were 2.07E-04 among the composting group and 2.07E−04 among the processing group, posing a definite risk. The carcinogenic risk value among the office group was in a possible risk category with ELCR values of 9.75 E−05. The on-site workers of waste management sites can be highly exposed to phthalates, and their health risk is considerable. Appropriate measures and interventions should be considered to reduce occupational exposure to phthalates.