Development of new analytical and measurement methods for characterizing the emission of phthalates from building and consumer materials into indoor air

International audiencePhthalates are ubiquitous indoor organic pollutants that are found in different building and consumer materials and are known to cause severe human health problems. In this paper, the emission of these compounds from vinyl floorings (VF) into indoor air has been studied using Automated Thermal Desorption-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (ATD-GC-MS) and a special device known as micro-chamber or thermal extractor (µ-CTE TM). So a robust analytical ATD-GC-MS method has been developed and validated to analyse eight selected phthalates. Calibration curves were linear (R 2 > 0.99), limit of detection (LOD) was down to 0.004 µg/m 3 , and the values of relative standard deviation (RSD) were less than 15% for all chosen phthalates. Then, a new micro-chamber measurement method based on diffusion has been developed for studying the emission of Diisononyl phthalate (DiNP) and Din -octyl phthalate (DnOP) from VF at different temperatures and estimating y0 (gas-phase concentration of phthalates on the surface of the material). This method was quite repeatable with 11% RSD for DiNP and 8% for DnOP

VOCs and formaldehyde emissions from cleaning products and air fresheners

International audienceHuman indoor exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) may be associated with the use of household products. However little is known about their emissions and to what extent they contribute to indoor air pollution. The French Agency for Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (Afsset) conducted tests in order to characterize VOCs emissions from 32 consumer products: air fresheners, glass cleaners, furniture polishes, toilet products, carpet and floor cleaning products. All experiments were conducted by the Scientific and Technical Centre for Building (CSTB) in realistic conditions of use (in emission test chamber or in an experimental house). Results show that the use of consumer products can lead to high indoor VOCs concentrations. Some of them are toxic airborne contaminants. The link between formaldehyde emissions and product compositions is discussed. Finally, formaldehyde concentrations are compared to the indoor air quality guideline value proposed by Afsse

Predicting indoor ozone and NOx concentrations

International audienceSimple modelling of indoor chemistry using FACSIMILE softwar

Chimie de la neige de très haute altitude dans les Alpes francaises

Le manteau neigeux de quatre glaciers de haute altitude (3000-3500 m) des Alpes francaises a été échantillonné pendant 3 saisons consécutives. En complément, un carottage de 13 m couvrant 3,5 années sur un glacier froid a permis de retracer la chimie de la précipitation annuelle. L'analyse des ions majeurs et des acides organiques par chromatographie ionique et par titration acide a permis d'équilibrer la balance ionique de la précipitation alpine. La neige alpine a un caractère légérement acide du essentiellement à l'ion nitrate et à la fraction d'acide sulfurique non neutralisée par l'ammoniac et les aérosols minéraux basiques. Les précipitations les plus acides reflètent l'influence des émissions de polluants des régions européennes les plus industrialisées. Les ions majeurs présentent des variations saisonnières avec un maximum d'été. Les arrivées de poussières sahariennes affectent de façon ponctuelle les hautes régions alpines, la neige étant alors alcaline. Ces poussières favorisent des réactions de neutralisation avec les composés atmosphériques acides augmentant ainsi leur dépôt. Les concentrations des acides organiques sont généralement faibles dans la neige alpine. La reprise de ces composés par les cristaux de neige est trés peu efficace du fait de leur réémission en phase gazeuse. Leurs sources sont principalement naturelles. L'ion fluoruré est présent dans la neige alpine au niveau du ppb. Au printemps et en été, les émissions de HF d'origine anthropique permettent vraisemblablement d'expliquer le bruit de fond de fluor observé hors événements saharienspas de résum

Emissions from air fresheners and associate indoor exposures

Indoor emissions from consumer products, their respective contribution to measured concentrations and their potential effects on human health need to be characterized. We draw a state of the knowledge in order to identify major concerned substances, emerging health issues, and needs for future developments

Emissions dans l'environnement intérieur par les produits de consommation et les matériaux

National audienc

Impact of household products on indoor air quality : definition of a simple and harmonized test protocol for volatile compounds emission

Consumer products in general and household products in particular are a significant source of indoor air pollutants. Exposure to these pollutants is important as it takes place in confined, poorly ventilated environments where people spend most of their time. The PEPS research project focused on studying the impact of household products on indoor air quality. A simple, adapted and reproducible test protocol for the characterization of volatile organic compounds (VOC) emitted by cleaning products is proposed. The developed methodology specifies: test conditions (type of test chamber, environmental parameters, application scenario of the product), the compounds of interest and the sampling conditions. In addition, it is representative of the use of cleaning products in real environments. Thus, definition of test conditions for the products and of performing the cleaning action during the test constitutes a key point of the work. Emissions of household products are evaluated under controlled conditions. A panel of 33 products, including 27 manufactured products and 6 home-made products, is constituted. Product composition is studied by collecting data provided by manufacturers and by the direct analysis of their content. A robustness study is conducted to define an harmonized and reproducible test protocol, which is then deployed to analyze the VOC emissions of the products. In addition to the development of this methodology, a field campaign is conducted in a realistic environment to collect knowledge on household products emissions in real conditions of use. This campaign is organized in the experimental house of the CSTB, MARIA, to evaluate, in real conditions, the emissions of 10 selected household products from the panel. The cleaning products are used in an experimental room according to realistic scenarios of use. VOC emissions are measured before, during, and after the use of the cleaning product showing the potential impact of those products on IAQ

Development of new analytical and measurement methods for characterizing the emission of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) from building and consumer materials

International audienc

Development of new analytical and measurement methods for characterizing the emission of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) from building and consumer materials

International audienc

Développement d’une nouvelle méthode pour la caractérisation de l’émission des phtalates de matériaux de construction et de consommation

International audienc