Emission Dynamics and Global Exposure Risks of Liquid Crystal Monomers from Indoor Electronic Devices

Qianqian Jin; Huixian Li; Yuting Zhan; Xiaotong Xu; Danyang Tao; Lixi Zeng; Yuhe He

doi:10.1021/acs.est.5c09163

Emission Dynamics and Global Exposure Risks of Liquid Crystal Monomers from Indoor Electronic Devices

Qianqian Jin
, Huixian Li
, Yuting Zhan
, Xiaotong Xu
, Danyang Tao
, Lixi Zeng
, Yuhe He^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) are emerging indoor pollutants of global concern. Indoor surface reservoirs can affect the capacity of indoor environments to emit and transport LCMs, together with increasing exposure for indoor residents. This study investigates the complex dynamics of LCM emissions in indoor surface environments through field investigations and environmental modeling. Emission profiles of LCMs from indoor electronic devices (e-devices) to source and nonsource surface environments follow different transfer behaviors. The physicochemical properties of LCMs and the characteristics of surface environments collectively influence their emission and persistence. Surface environments can re-emit LCMs, leading to prolonged and multiple exposure scenarios for residents. The annual global unintentional emissions of LCMs from indoor e-devices are estimated using the obtained emission factors for the first time. Results indicate that while substantial emissions originate from North America and Europe, high exposure risks occur in low-income nations. Past usage and disposal of e-devices have contributed to an underreported accumulation of LCMs in the global environment. Our findings provide a critical foundation for developing strategies to reduce emissions and migration of LCMs indoors, thereby minimizing human exposure.

© 2025 American Chemical Society

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	27495-27507
Number of pages	13
Journal	Environmental Science & Technology
Volume	59
Issue number	50
Online published	24 Nov 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c09163
Publication status	Published - 23 Dec 2025

Funding

The project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (42177223), the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong (CityU 11311222 and 11300723), the Marine Conservation and Enhancement Fund (MCEF2022002 to Y.H.), and the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2022A1515110549 to Q.J.). This work was also supported by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) of the Hong Kong SAR Government, which provides regular research funding to the State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Health. However, any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not reflect the views of the Hong Kong SAR Government or the ITC.

Research Keywords

liquid crystal monomers (LCMs)
emission
globalresidential risks
environmental modeling
multitransportfates

RGC Funding Information

RGC-funded

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10.1021/acs.est.5c09163

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title = "Emission Dynamics and Global Exposure Risks of Liquid Crystal Monomers from Indoor Electronic Devices",

abstract = "Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) are emerging indoor pollutants of global concern. Indoor surface reservoirs can affect the capacity of indoor environments to emit and transport LCMs, together with increasing exposure for indoor residents. This study investigates the complex dynamics of LCM emissions in indoor surface environments through field investigations and environmental modeling. Emission profiles of LCMs from indoor electronic devices (e-devices) to source and nonsource surface environments follow different transfer behaviors. The physicochemical properties of LCMs and the characteristics of surface environments collectively influence their emission and persistence. Surface environments can re-emit LCMs, leading to prolonged and multiple exposure scenarios for residents. The annual global unintentional emissions of LCMs from indoor e-devices are estimated using the obtained emission factors for the first time. Results indicate that while substantial emissions originate from North America and Europe, high exposure risks occur in low-income nations. Past usage and disposal of e-devices have contributed to an underreported accumulation of LCMs in the global environment. Our findings provide a critical foundation for developing strategies to reduce emissions and migration of LCMs indoors, thereby minimizing human exposure. {\textcopyright} 2025 American Chemical Society",

keywords = "liquid crystal monomers (LCMs), emission, globalresidential risks, environmental modeling, multitransportfates",

author = "Qianqian Jin and Huixian Li and Yuting Zhan and Xiaotong Xu and Danyang Tao and Lixi Zeng and Yuhe He",

year = "2025",

month = dec,

day = "23",

doi = "10.1021/acs.est.5c09163",

language = "English",

volume = "59",

pages = "27495--27507",

journal = "Environmental Science \& Technology",

issn = "0013-936X",

publisher = "American Chemical Society",

number = "50",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Emission Dynamics and Global Exposure Risks of Liquid Crystal Monomers from Indoor Electronic Devices

AU - Jin, Qianqian

AU - Li, Huixian

AU - Zhan, Yuting

AU - Xu, Xiaotong

AU - Tao, Danyang

AU - Zeng, Lixi

AU - He, Yuhe

PY - 2025/12/23

Y1 - 2025/12/23

N2 - Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) are emerging indoor pollutants of global concern. Indoor surface reservoirs can affect the capacity of indoor environments to emit and transport LCMs, together with increasing exposure for indoor residents. This study investigates the complex dynamics of LCM emissions in indoor surface environments through field investigations and environmental modeling. Emission profiles of LCMs from indoor electronic devices (e-devices) to source and nonsource surface environments follow different transfer behaviors. The physicochemical properties of LCMs and the characteristics of surface environments collectively influence their emission and persistence. Surface environments can re-emit LCMs, leading to prolonged and multiple exposure scenarios for residents. The annual global unintentional emissions of LCMs from indoor e-devices are estimated using the obtained emission factors for the first time. Results indicate that while substantial emissions originate from North America and Europe, high exposure risks occur in low-income nations. Past usage and disposal of e-devices have contributed to an underreported accumulation of LCMs in the global environment. Our findings provide a critical foundation for developing strategies to reduce emissions and migration of LCMs indoors, thereby minimizing human exposure. © 2025 American Chemical Society

AB - Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) are emerging indoor pollutants of global concern. Indoor surface reservoirs can affect the capacity of indoor environments to emit and transport LCMs, together with increasing exposure for indoor residents. This study investigates the complex dynamics of LCM emissions in indoor surface environments through field investigations and environmental modeling. Emission profiles of LCMs from indoor electronic devices (e-devices) to source and nonsource surface environments follow different transfer behaviors. The physicochemical properties of LCMs and the characteristics of surface environments collectively influence their emission and persistence. Surface environments can re-emit LCMs, leading to prolonged and multiple exposure scenarios for residents. The annual global unintentional emissions of LCMs from indoor e-devices are estimated using the obtained emission factors for the first time. Results indicate that while substantial emissions originate from North America and Europe, high exposure risks occur in low-income nations. Past usage and disposal of e-devices have contributed to an underreported accumulation of LCMs in the global environment. Our findings provide a critical foundation for developing strategies to reduce emissions and migration of LCMs indoors, thereby minimizing human exposure. © 2025 American Chemical Society

KW - liquid crystal monomers (LCMs)

KW - emission

KW - globalresidential risks

KW - environmental modeling

KW - multitransportfates

UR - https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001621920300001

U2 - 10.1021/acs.est.5c09163

DO - 10.1021/acs.est.5c09163

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 0013-936X

VL - 59

SP - 27495

EP - 27507

JO - Environmental Science & Technology

JF - Environmental Science & Technology

IS - 50

ER -

Emission Dynamics and Global Exposure Risks of Liquid Crystal Monomers from Indoor Electronic Devices

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GRF: Toxicokinetics and Toxicodynamics of an Emerging Group of E-waste Pollutants Liquid Crystal Monomers in Zebrafish

GRF: Occurrence and Environmental Risk of Liquid Crystal Monomers - An Emerging Group of E-waste Pollutants Found in Municipal Wastewater

Cite this

Emission Dynamics and Global Exposure Risks of Liquid Crystal Monomers from Indoor Electronic Devices

Abstract

Funding

Research Keywords

RGC Funding Information

Access Output

Other Access Options

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Projects

GRF: Toxicokinetics and Toxicodynamics of an Emerging Group of E-waste Pollutants Liquid Crystal Monomers in Zebrafish

GRF: Occurrence and Environmental Risk of Liquid Crystal Monomers - An Emerging Group of E-waste Pollutants Found in Municipal Wastewater

Cite this