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EMISSIONS, EXPOSURE PATTERNS and HEALTH EFFECTS of

CONSUMER PRODUCTS in the EU

A literature review

on methods of measurement of chemical

emissions from consumer products FRAIZE-FRONTIER Sandrine1, STRANGER Marianne2, WOLKOFF Peder3, BROWN Terry4 and CRUMP Derrick4 on behalf of EPHECT Team

Contact : sandrine.fraize-frontier@anses.fr

1 French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety(Anses), France; 2 Flemish Institute for Technological Research NV (VITO), Belgium, 3 The National Research Centre for the

Working Environment (NRCWE), Denmark, 4 Institute of Environment and Health (IEH), United Kingdom

Introduction

Review of the literature on emission tests and test protocols for a selection

of classes of consumer products to provide a basis to formulate the most

appropriate emission test protocols for undertaking laboratory testing on

product emissions, in order to generate suitable data for health risk

assessment. As a part of the project EPHECT, it focuses on the EPHECT

selection of 15 product classes. The main purpose is to summarise the

different experimental approaches and to identify the types of

approaches necessary to assess the chemical releases from the

range of products of interest.

Objective

Method

Results

Domestic

uses

Human

exposure

Indoor air

Human

health effects

Respiratory diseases

(e.g. asthma, allergies, …)

Consumer products are

widely used in indoor

environment

Released

Volatile chemicals and particles

(e.g. terpinoids, aldehyde, aromatics, etc.)

There is considerable scientific uncertainty about the underlying

mechanism of health effect. In particular, a better knowledge on

consumer products emissions and the occurrence of secondary

chemicals reactions are necessary to be able to conduct a health

risk assessment.

Step 1: Literature search → 93 publications relating to the measurement

of chemicals in the consumer products of interest and their release upon use

and consequent exposure of people by inhalation.

Step 2: Classification into five main types

(A) Studies of composition of consumer products;

(B) Chamber studies; measure emissions in controlled environment but not

involving simulating real use of product;

(C) Measurement of emissions during an in-use scenario either in a chamber

/ test room (C1) or in a building during actual use (C2);

(D) Study of indoor air chemistry associated with chemicals released by

some consumer products;

(E) Other experimental studies and review papers.

Step 3: Data compilation into a database → studies parameters are

recorded according to those listed in the international standards ISO 16000-9 and

ISO 16000-6 which describe emission test procedures and sampling and analysis

techniques that are not specific to consumer products :

headspace approach mainly used for studying chemicals released from air fresheners

and cleaning products, particularly fragrance compounds released. Predominantly

static but also dynamic headspace methods have been applied. The methods are

useful for demonstrating the propensity of products to release chemicals to air

and they provide information on the chemical composition of emissions.

• Chamber studies (20 publications): essentially on VOCs, with a diversity in size and type of chamber, in test conditions (t°, humidity and air exchange rate, etc.).

Chambers include emission cells, chambers with openings to test spray and more

commonly closed chambers ranging mainly in size from 4 L to 1m3. A few meet the

requirements of ISO 16000-9. One study (Manoukian et al., 2011) demonstrated

that the test conditions can influence the amount and composition of

emissions from scented candles and incense.

• Large chambers and test rooms (17 publications): wide variety of test

conditions, ranging from chambers with close control of environmental conditions,

to rooms in an experimental house less closely controlled, to other test rooms

where control is more limited. Simulation of real use of the product Sampling in

breathing zone of people and/or measure of the general atmosphere. A few studies

focussed on particles but most concerned VOCs (including formaldehyde).

• Real and simulated exposure scenarios in uncontrolled environments

(12 publications): a range of indoor environments such as vehicles, dwellings and

occupational environments. These studies include area monitoring and some also

undertook personal monitoring. Most concern air fresheners and incense and

report concentrations of VOCs and carbonyls and some report other analytes such

as particles and inorganic gases. Given the broad range of products available

worldwide and the range of possible exposure situations arising from use of

these products the available studies are limited in both number and scope.

Large range of chambers including those designed to have inert teflon surfaces as

well as materials used for normal construction of buildings such as dwellings. Their

focus is the reactions between terpenes and ozone and the particles and other

chemicals such as formaldehyde that may be formed. Mostly the reactions are in the

dark and a source of ozone is introduced but one study used UV lamps within the

chamber. The potential for production of secondary products is clearly

demonstrated and some understanding has been gained about the influence

of concentration and test conditions on the reactive chemistry.

- Numbers of sample

- Times

- Place

- Duration

- Air flow rate

- Volume

- Sampling methods

- Sampling analysis

- Standard

Characteristics

of the sampling

- Emission test chamber vs

experimental house

- Total duration of the test

- Standard

Characteristics

of the test

- Reference of the publication

- Description of the product

- Application’s scenario

- Amount

- Rate of load

General

information

- Description of the room

- Volume

- Furniture

- Ground

- Ceiling

- Wall - T°

- Humidity rate

- Air inlet

- Extraction of air

- Air flow rate

- Air exchange rate

- Rate of specific ventilation

Characteristics

of the test room

Information recorded in the database

There is a need for standardised tests appropriate for each product

type to allow comparison of products and evaluation of their

emissions. The international standards for testing emissions from

building and furnishing products provides a useful framework for the

development of standards for consumer products

Conclusion

Product emission to air (49 publications)

Indoor air chemistry and product emissions (13 experimental studies)

Composition of consumer products (17 publications)

European collaborative action - Small scale project -June 2010 – October 2013 EPHECT is co-funded by European Union (Executive Agency for Health and Consumers- EAHC), framework of the Health Programmes 2006-2013