Kortlægning af kemiske stoffer i forbrugerprodukter, Nr. 82 2007 – Kortlægning og sundhedsmæssig vurdering af udvalgte luftvejssensibiliserende stoffer i forbrugerprodukter.

Kortlægning og sundhedsmæssig vurdering af udvalgte luftvejssensibiliserende stoffer i forbrugerprodukter.

English summary

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”. Five substances are on the list exclusively because of this classification:

Cyclohexan-1,2-dicarboxylsyreanhydrid (uspec.), CAS 85-42-7

Hexahydro-4-methylphthalic anhydride, CAS 19438-60-9

Phthalic anhydride, Methyltetrahydro- (uspec.), 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

Make an inventory of consumer product types that may contain any of the five R42-substances.
Examine, if consumers actually are exposed to the substances when using such products.
Assess, if the exposure is large enough to cause health effects in the consumers

The inventory below was created by searching SPIN – database on substances in preparations in Nordic countries, the INCI list, and data from earlier projects on consumer products. In addition, five trade associations and retail stores were asked about their knowledge on the matter, and the literature was searched for cases of respiratory sensitization due to any of the five substances in consumer products.

All in all, 19 products were sampled for inclusion in an emission analysis. The number of products within each group is given in parenthesis.

The following consumer products may contain phthalic anhydride derivatives:

Nail Lacquer (6)
Two-component epoxy adhesive (2)

The following consumer products may contain glutaraldehyde:

Cosmetic products (mouth washes and creams) (0)
Disinfectants (0)
Film developers for consumers (0)
Paper handkerchiefs and toilet paper (2)

The following consumer products may contain monomeric MDI:

PU-foam articles, such as mattresses (2)
One component spray foam or adhesive (2)
Boat and car repair kits (1)
Two-component adhesives and putties (0)
Liquid roof coating (0)
Hot melt adhesives (0)
Floor adhesives (1)
Polyurethane materials in clothing (1)
Spray hair fixatives and conditioner (2)

When searching the market it was not possible to obtain cosmetic products, disinfectants, nor film developers with glutaraldehyde. Neither was it possible to obtain two-component adhesives and putties, liquid roof coating, nor hot melt adhesives with a content of monomeric MDI.

All purchases were carried out while pretending to be ordinary consumers, not professionals. Although some of the outlets visited are also used by professionals, we were not offered products intended only for professionals. This indicates a fairly good separation between the markets for consumers and the markets for professionals, at least pertaining to these kinds of products.

Emissions from the 19 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.