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Abstract
An increasing fraction of volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions come from the domestic use of solvents, contained within myriad commonplace consumer products. Emission rates are often poorly characterized and depend significantly on individual behavior and specific product formulation and usage. Time-concentration profiles of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) arising from the use of a representative selection of personal care products (PCPs) during showering are generated, and person-to-person variability in emissions calculated. A panel of 18 participants used a standardized set of products, dosages, and application times during showering in a controlled indoor bathroom setting. Proton transfer mass spectrometry was used to measure the in-room VOC evolution of limonene (representing the sum of monoterpenes), benzyl alcohol, and ethanol. The release of VOCs had reproducible patterns between users, but noticeable variations in absolute peak concentrations, despite identical amounts of material being used. The amounts of VOC emitted to air for one showering activity were as follows: limonene (1.77mg±42%), benzyl alcohol (1.07mg±41%), and ethanol (0.33mg±78%). Real-world emissions to air were between 1.3 and 11 times lower than bottom-up estimates based on dynamic headspace measurements of product emissions rates, likely a result of PCPs being washed away before VOC evaporation could occur.
Highlights
There is growing evidence that both aerosol and non-aerosol consumer products, including personal care products (PCPs) and household cleaning products (HCPs), contribute an increasing proportion of anthropogenic volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions in high-income countries
In order to assess the overall amount of VOCs emitted from fixed amounts of products, we consider the concentration over one 15min shower activity
The data presented here indicate that the overall emissions of VOCs from a single measured dose of PCP are affected by personto-person variations in how the products are used, even when application amount and time is controlled for
Summary
There is growing evidence that both aerosol and non-aerosol consumer products, including personal care products (PCPs) and household cleaning products (HCPs), contribute an increasing proportion of anthropogenic VOC emissions in high-income countries. Showering is a common activity that can use multiple personal care products; each event is seen to release milligram quantifies of VOCs such as limonene, benzyl alcohol, and ethanol, and this can perturb transient indoor concentrations.
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