Modeling Primary Emissions of Chemicals from Liquid Products Applied on Indoor Surfaces

Wenjuan Wei (), John C. Little, Mélanie Nicolas, Olivier Ramalho and Corinne Mandin
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Wenjuan Wei: Scientific and Technical Center for Building (CSTB), Health and Comfort Department, French Indoor Air Quality Observatory (OQAI), University of Paris-Est, CEDEX 2, 77447 Marne la Vallée, France
John C. Little: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
Mélanie Nicolas: Scientific and Technical Center for Building (CSTB), Health and Comfort Department, French Indoor Air Quality Observatory (OQAI), University of Paris-Est, CEDEX 2, 77447 Marne la Vallée, France
Olivier Ramalho: Scientific and Technical Center for Building (CSTB), Health and Comfort Department, French Indoor Air Quality Observatory (OQAI), University of Paris-Est, CEDEX 2, 77447 Marne la Vallée, France
Corinne Mandin: Scientific and Technical Center for Building (CSTB), Health and Comfort Department, French Indoor Air Quality Observatory (OQAI), University of Paris-Est, CEDEX 2, 77447 Marne la Vallée, France

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 16, 1-13

Abstract: Liquid products applied on material surfaces and human skin, including many household cleaning products and personal care products, can lead to intermittent emissions of chemicals and peak concentrations in indoor air. The existing case-based models do not allow inter-comparison of different use scenarios and emission mechanisms. In this context, the present work developed a mechanistic model based on mass transfer theories, which allowed emissions into the air from the liquid product to be characterized. It also allowed for diffusion into the applied surface during product use and re-emission from the applied surface after the depletion of the liquid product. The model was validated using literature data on chemical emissions following floor cleaning and personal care product use. A sensitivity analysis of the model was then conducted. The percentage of the chemical mass emitted from the liquid to the air varied from 45% (applied on porous material) to 99% (applied on human skin), and the rest was absorbed into the applied material/skin. The peak gas-phase concentration, the time to reach the peak concentration, and the percentage of the liquid-to-air emission depended significantly on the chemical’s octanol/gas and material/gas partition coefficients and the diffusion coefficient of the chemical in the applied material/skin.

Keywords: volatile organic compounds; consumer exposure; household cleaning products; personal care products; intermittent source (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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