Phthalates are widely used as plasticizers in consumer products and are ubiquitous in indoor environments. Undergraduates spend a high amount of time in classrooms and in dormitories; however, little is known about the pollution characteristics of phthalates in indoor air in a university setting. In this study, we measured the airborne the airborne concentrations of phthalates in dormitories and classrooms of a university in Beijing, China. Eight phthalates were detected, including Dimethyl phthalate (DMP), Di (isobutyl) phthalate (DiBP), Di (n-butyl) phthalate (DnBP), Di (2-Methoxyethyl) phthalate (DMEP), Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP), Di (2-nButoxyethyl) phthalate (DBEP), and Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), Din-octyl phthalate (DnOP). DnBP and DMEP were the most abundant phthalates. Phthalates in classrooms and dormitories might have three indoor sources. The airborne concentrations of phthalates with high molecular weight is significantly higher in winter than that in spring and autumn. The reason may be effect of outdoor PM_2.5 concentration and indoor ventilation frequency. DMP concentrations were significantly different between in male and female dormitories in spring.

PAEs; Airborne; Indoor; Seasonal variation; Source identification