Survey of Chemical Substances in Consumer Products, No. 62 2005 – Release of chemical substances from tents and tunnels for children

Release of chemical substances from tents and tunnels for children

1 Introduction

1.1 Background
1.2 Purpose
1.3 Procedure

1.1 Background

Tents and tunnels exist on the market, with which children can play indoor as well as outside. A German survey (Öko-Test, 2002) identified a long list of chemical substances in tents and tunnels, and children can thus be exposed to these substances. The German survey analysed for total VOC, chloro-organic substances, tin compounds, dyestuffs, lead and antimony. One would also expect to find substances such as formaldehyde.

It is expected that tents and tunnels for children are produced from textile materials, such as woven fabric made by cotton, polyester, nylon or polypropylene. The materials can probably be coated with synthetic polymers like polyurethanes (PUR), or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Further the products will normally be dyed and/or printed, and it is likely that they have been subjected to various kinds of finishing to avoid water penetration, soiling, rot and fungi as well as ignition. Finally the products probably will include non-textile materials such as wood, leather, metal and plastic.

Children can be exposed to the chemical substances in various ways, but this project is limited to exposure due to inhalation. This means that the substances, which have been looked for, must be able to be released from the material to the air, which in turn can be inhaled by the children.

1.2 Purpose

The purpose of the project has been to clarify the possible risks that might be linked to the staying in tents and tunnels for children, and possibly give recommendations as to what could be done to avoid or counteract such risks. Further it should be clarified whether possible release of chemical substances would decline with time.

1.3 Procedure

The project has be divided into three phases:

Phase 1: Survey of products on the Danish market.

Phase 2: Determination of release of chemical substances from selected products, partly at room temperature, partly at elevated temperature.

Phase 3: Screening of health effects and evaluation health risks.