Determination of personal exposure levels to micropollutants in our daily life

Micropollutant is a term used to express pollutants that are released into the natural environment in low concentrations as a by-product of domestic, industrial and natural processes. Micropollutants have an important place in the world and in our country; naturally, it has revealed the need to discuss and control its effects on human health and the environment both on a global and national scale. Micropollutants can enter environmental compartments such as air, water and soil, and cause these environments to be damaged for a short time or permanently, or to benefit from these environments by cleaning them from pests. Indoor environments where most of the time is spent in daily life, solid and liquid foods that are frequently consumed, and many materials that are considered harmless; It can harm human health with the micropollutants contained in it. The aim of this study is to determine the amount of micropollutants exposed by various exposure routes such as inhalation, ingestion and dermal contact in different environments in daily life and to evaluate the risk. In this context, exposure to poly chlorinated biphenyls through butter consumption, which is a frequently consumed food, and exposure to phthalates and bisphenols through water consumption, which is the basic fluid for vital functions, were evaluated. In addition to water samples, phthalate levels in the packaging material of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles were also investigated. In addition, heavy metal and phthalate levels were determined in the indoor environment for the city of Ankara, where traffic and settlement are intense. Finally, a risk assessment for adults and children was made for the target pollutants analyzed within the scope of the study. The total hazard index (HI) values expressing the non-carcinogenic risk determined in the samples were found below the safe limit (HI<1) determined by the USEPA for all micropollutants. The total carcinogenic risk (CR) values, which express the carcinogenic risk, were found below the safe limit (10-6-10-4) determined by the USEPA, except for benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) detected in packaged drinking water, PET bottles and indoor dust samples.