Organochlorine pesticides in the indoor air of a theatre and museum in the Czech Republic: Inhalation exposure and cancer risk

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have been used to preserve the integrity of historical buildings or to protect collections of artefacts at potentially large volumes and often without detailed application records. Previous research has focused on the efficiency of remediation at contaminated sites (where identified), as well as improvement of preservation techniques and workplace health and safety. Few studies have assessed the human health risks from occupational exposure to OCPs in buildings of cultural and historical importance. Thus, potential risks may remain unidentified. In the present study, OCPs in indoor air were measured in a baroque theatre and a natural history museum in the Czech Republic, both of which had suspected past indoor application. In the theatre attic p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) levels in air were up to 190ngm^-3, confirming past indoor use of p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p,p'-DDT). There was also evidence of γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH) use in the theatre (max γ-HCH in air of 56ngm^-3). Yet, the cancer risk (CR) from occupational exposure via inhalation (Exp_i) to OCPs in the theatre was low (CR<4.0×10^-6). γ-HCH was found at elevated levels in air of the museum (max γ-HCH in air of 15,000ngm^-3). CR from Exp_i in the museum was moderate to high (>1×10^-4). Our results show the CR through Exp_i to OCPs in buildings, such as museums can still be significant enough to warrant mitigation measures, e.g., remediation.