Presence of N, N’-substituted p-phenylenediamine quinones in Tap Water: Implication for human exposure

Monitoring studies have demonstrated the wide presence of N, N’-substituted p-phenylenediamine-derived quinones (PPDQs) in environmental matrices. The general population may be potentially exposed to PPDQs through the consumption of tap water. While, the existence of PPDQs in tap water has not been well examined. To fill this gap, in this study we collected tap water samples from Hangzhou, China, and examined seven homologues of PPDQs in collected samples. All target PPDQs were identified in the collected tap water samples, with distinct detection frequencies (38–89%). PPDQs detected in tap water was dominated by N-(1, 3-dimethylbutyl)-N’-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPDQ; mean 0.56 ng/L, < LOD–4.0 ng/L). The profiles of PPDQs concentrations in tap water from the four districts of Hangzhou city were slightly different. The daily intake (DI) was found highest for 6PPDQ (mean 14–22 pg/kg bw/day, median 10–15 pg/kg bw/day) through tap water intake. The relatively higher DIs of various PPDQs were displayed for infants (mean 10–22 pg/kg bw/day, median 6.5–15 pg/kg bw/day), relative to the children (8.0–18 pg/kg bw/day, 5.4–12 pg/kg bw/day) and adults (6.7–14 pg/kg bw/day, 4.5–10 pg/kg bw/day). These data are crucial for assessing the overall human exposure to PPDQs. This study first, to our knowledge, reveals the concentrations and profiles of PPDQs in tap water. [Display omitted] •6PPDQ, IPPDQ, and DPPDQ were detected in >80% of drinking water samples.•6PPDQ was the major PPDQs in drinking water, followed by 7PPDQ and IPPDQ.•Infants had higher mean daily intake of PPDQs than children and adults.•This study first reports the occurrence of five PPDQs in drinking water.