Survey of Chemical Substances in Consumer Products, No. 82, 2007

Survey and health assessment of selected respiratory sensitizers in consumer products

Abstract
In 2004, the Danish EPA issued a revised list of unwanted substances (Orientering fra Miljøstyrelsen, nr. 8, 2004). The criteria for inclusion in this list were among others the classification of the substances. One of the criteria was classification R42: "May cause sensitization by inhalation". The following five substances are on the list exclusively because of this classification:
Cyclohexan-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride (unspec.), CAS 85-42-7
Hexahydro-4-methylphthalic anhydride, CAS 19438-60-9
Phthalic anhydride, Methyltetrahydro- (unspec.), CAS 11070-44-3
Methylendiphenyldiisocyanate (MDI), CAS 26447-40-5, 5873-54-1 and 101-68-8
Glutaraldehyde, CAS 111-30-8

The purpose of the present project was to identify consumer products that may contain any of the five R42-substances and assess, if the exposure from the products is large enough to cause risk of health effects in the consumers.

19 products were sampled for inclusion in an emission analysis. Emissions from the products were analyzed under realistic and, in some cases also extreme use conditions. No emissions of the respiratory sensitizers from the 19 products obtained could be detected by chemical analysis. Hence, no risk of sensitisation to phthalic anhydrides, MDI or glutaraldehyde can be attributed to any of the products analyzed.

Abstract in Danish

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