Cleaning products and air fresheners: emissions and resulting concentrations of glycol ethers and terpenoids B. C. Singer1,2, H. Destaillats2, A. T. Hodgson2, W. W. Nazaroff2,3 Practical Implications While effective cleaning can improve the healthfulness of indoor environments, this work shows that use of some consumer cleaning agents can yield high levels of volatile organic compounds, including glycol ethers – which are regulated toxic air contaminants – and terpenes that can react with ozone to form a variety of secondary pollutants including formaldehyde and ultrafine particles. Persons involved in cleaning, especially those who clean occupationally or often, might encounter excessive exposures to these pollutants owing to cleaning product emissions. Mitigation options include screening of product ingredients and increased ventilation during and after cleaning. Certain practices, such as the use of some products in dilute solution vs. full-strength and the prompt removal of cleaning supplies from occupied spaces, can reduce emissions and exposures to 2-butoxyethanol and other volatile constituents. Also, it may be prudent to limit use of products containing ozone-reactive constituents when indoor ozone concentrations are elevated either because of high ambient ozone levels or because of the indoor use of ozone-generating equipment. Abstract Experiments were conducted to quantify emissions and concentrations of glycol ethers and terpenoids from cleaning product and air freshener use in a 50-m3 room ventilated at approximately 0.5/h. Five cleaning products were applied full-strength (FS); three were additionally used in dilute solution. FS application of pine-oil cleaner (POC) yielded 1-h concentrations of 10–1300 ėg/m3 for individual terpenoids, including á-terpinene (90–120), d-limonene (1000–1100), terpinolene (900–1300), and á-terpineol (260–700). One-hour concentrations of 2-butoxyethanol and/or d-limonene were 300–6000 ėg/m3 after FS use of other products. During FS application including rinsing with sponge and wiping with towels, fractional emissions (mass volatilized/dispensed) of 2-butoxyethanol and d-limonene were 50–100% with towels retained, and approximately 25–50% when towels were removed after cleaning. Lower fractions (2–11%) resulted from dilute use. Fractional emissions of terpenes from FS use of POC were approximately 35–70% with towels retained, and 20–50% with towels removed. During floor cleaning with dilute solution of POC, 7–12% of dispensed terpenes were emitted. Terpene alcohols were emitted at lower fractions: 7–30% (FS, towels retained), 2–9% (FS, towels removed), and 2–5% (dilute). During air-freshener use, d-limonene, dihydromyrcenol, linalool, linalyl acetate, and â-citronellol) were emitted at 35–180 mg/day over 3 days while air concentrations averaged 30–160 ėg/m3. Indoor Air Volume 16 Page 179 - June 2006 doi:10.1111/j.1600-0668.2005.00414.x Volume 16 Issue 3 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.