Exposure to total volatile organic compounds from household spray products

Abstract

Emission of volatile organic compounds from the use of household spray products has a negative impact on health and environment. Total volatile organic compound (TVOC) concentration levels emitted from 45 registered consumer spray products in Nigeria were measured using the MultiRAE TVOCs gas monitor. Human exposure to emitted TVOCs through inhalation, ingestion or through the dermal route was evaluated using the ConsExpo spray model. The average TVOCs emission from all the investigated samples was in the range of 1,664 and 560,994.7 μg m-3 with an average of 63,632.2 μg m-3. Generally for all the samples considered, the average released concentrations, the inhaled doses, the dermal doses, and the average deposition rates values obtained were in the ranges of 1.83E+04 – 1.00E+06 μg m-3; 1.47E+03 – 8.01E+04 μg; 3.41E+04 – 4.84E+05 μg; and 1.79E+01 – 1.01E+03 μg s-1, respectively. The results provide information that could be used to significantly improve human exposure and risk assessment to emitted aerosols from spray products.