Consumer exposure to biocides - identification of relevant sources and evaluation of possible health effects

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Products containing biocides are used for a variety of purposes in the home environment. To assess potential health risks, data on products containing biocides were gathered by means of a market survey, exposures were estimated using a worst case scenario approach (screening), the hazard of the active components were evaluated, and a preliminary risk assessment was conducted.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Information on biocide-containing products was collected by on-site research, by an internet inquiry as well as research into databases and lists of active substances. Twenty active substances were selected for detailed investigation. The products containing these substances were subsequently classified by range of application; typical concentrations were derived. Potential exposures were then estimated using a worst case scenario approach according to the European Commission's Technical Guidance Document on Risk Assessment. Relevant combinations of scenarios and active substances were identified. The toxicological data for these substances were compiled in substance dossiers. For estimating risks, the margins of exposure (MOEs) were determined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Numerous consumer products were found to contain biocides. However, it appeared that only a limited number of biocidal active substances or groups of biocidal active substances were being used. The lowest MOEs for dermal exposure or exposure by inhalation were obtained for the following scenarios and biocides: indoor pest control using sprays, stickers or evaporators (chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos) and spraying of disinfectants as well as cleaning of surfaces with concentrates (hydrogen peroxide, formaldehyde, glutardialdehyde). The risk from aggregate exposure to individual biocides via different exposure scenarios was higher than the highest single exposure on average by a factor of three. From the 20 biocides assessed 10 had skin-sensitizing properties. The biocides isothiazolinone (mixture of 5-chloro-2-methyl-2H-isothiazolin-3-one and 2-methyl-2H-isothiazolin-3-one, CMI/MI), glutardialdehyde, formaldehyde and chloroacetamide may be present in household products in concentrations which have induced sensitization in experimental studies.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Exposure to biocides from household products may contribute to induction of sensitization in the population. The use of biocides in consumer products should be carefully evaluated. Detailed risk assessments will become available within the framework of the EU Biocides Directive.</p

Groundwater contaminations - The use of LC-NMR and LC-MS to characterize the scope of polar contaminants

Organic pollutants that are released into the environment are subjected to various chemical, photochemical and microbiological transformation processes. As a result, a variety of new and unexpected transformation products can be formed and, as a rule, they are more polar than the parent compounds. While the parent compounds and some of their known metabolites are analyzed with optimized analytical methods (target analysis) unknown transformation products and metabolites have often been overlooked in the past. Today, the combined use of LC-NMR and LC-MS techniques offer the possibility to identify unknown compounds in environmental samples routinely (non-target analysis). General aspects of this new analytical approach are discussed and examples of application are reported, which cover the characterization of polar explosives and related compounds in groundwater samples from ammunition waste sites. Via the example of biodegradation of mononitrotoluenes, it is further sho wn how non-target analysis can complement the investigation of the fate of environmental pollutants

Human biomonitoring of pyrethrum and pyrethroid insecticides used indoors: Determination of the metabolites E-cis/trans-chrysanthemumdicarboxylic acid in human urine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with negative chemical ionization

This work describes a gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method employing negative chemical ionization (NCI) for the determination of E-cis/trans-chrysanthemumdicarboxylic acid (CDCA) in human urine used as a biomarker for the exposure to pyrethrum and/or certain pyrethroids in insecticide formulations applied indoors. Mixed-mode solid phase extraction was utilized for sample cleanup. Extraction recoveries ranged from 92 to 104% (2–9% R.S.D.). The acids were esterified with 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) allowing both their gas chromatographic separation and their sensitive mass spectrometric detection under NCI conditions. Detection limits of ca. 0.05 small mu, Greekg/l urine were achieved

Analytik von Ruestungsaltlasten. Teilvorhaben 1: Entwicklung von Analysenmethoden zur Bestimmung von Wasserproben im Einzugsgebiet von Ruestungsaltlasten Abschlussbericht

Liquid/liquid and solid/liquid extraction methods for the determination of explosives and related compounds in aqueous samples of former ammunition production sites were tested and validated. For the instrumental analysis of these pollutants mainly methods based on gas chromatography (GC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were developed and validated, where the former method is suited for thermally stable, the latter for thermally labile explosives. Apart from methods for the analysis of nitroaromatics, nitramines and nitrate esters also methods for the determination of nitrophenols, chlorinated nitrobenzenes and aromatic amines were developed. These compounds are by-products for degradation products in ammunition waste. Moreover, the method of 'automated multiple development' thin layer chromatography and the proton nuclear magnetic resonance have been applied to the identification and quantitation of explosives and related compounds. The AMD technique is particularly suited for a rapid screening of a large number of aqueous or solid samples. The NMR technique allows the 'non-target'-analysis of compounds in aqueous samples of ammunition hazardous waste sites. Using this method a variety of hitherto unknown pollutants could be identified. (orig.)Available from TIB Hannover: RR 5370(1995,11)+a / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEBundesministerium fuer Forschung und Technologie (BMFT), Bonn (Germany)DEGerman

Trichloroethene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane and tetrachloroethene - Determination of trichloroacetic acid in urine using headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry [Biomonitoring Methods, 2017]

Trichloroacetic acid is a metabolite of several chlorinated hydrocarbons which are often used as solvents, such as 1,1,1‐trichloroethane, 1,1,2,2‐tetrachloroethane, tetrachloroethene and above all trichloroethene. The described method enables the determination of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) in urine and is based on the quantitative, thermolytic degradation of TCA into carbon dioxide and chloroform (trichloromethane) in an aqueous solution. The analyte is chloroform, which can be quantified using headspace‐gas chromatography and a mass selective detector in the Selected‐Ion‐Monitoring‐mode. For quantitation, a calibration is carried out using standard solutions in pooled urine or water which are processed and analysed in the same way as the samples. The validation of the procedure showed a precision in the range of 4.0 to 5.5%. Mean accuracy ranged from 95 to 118%. LOQ was found to be 0.03 mg TCA per liter urine

Trichloroethene, 1,1,1‐trichloroethane, 1,1,2,2‐tetrachloroethane and tetrachloroethene – Determination of trichloroacetic acid in urine using headspace‐gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry : Biomonitoring Methods, 2017

Trichloroacetic acid is a metabolite of several chlorinated hydrocarbons which are often used as solvents, such as 1,1,1‐trichloroethane, 1,1,2,2‐tetrachloroethane, tetrachloroethene and above all trichloroethene. The described method enables the determination of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) in urine and is based on the quantitative, thermolytic degradation of TCA into carbon dioxide and chloroform (trichloromethane) in an aqueous solution. The analyte is chloroform, which can be quantified using headspace‐gas chromatography and a mass selective detector in the Selected‐Ion‐Monitoring‐mode. For quantitation, a calibration is carried out using standard solutions in pooled urine or water which are processed and analysed in the same way as the samples. The validation of the procedure showed a precision in the range of 4.0 to 5.5%. Mean accuracy ranged from 95 to 118%. LOQ was found to be 0.03 mg TCA per liter urine