Daeyeop Lee

Indoor PM 2.5 Concentrations in Different Sizes of Pubs with Non-comprehensive Smoke-free Regulation

Objectives: The Korean government implemented a smoke-free regulation for pubs with a net indoor area of ≥100 m on January 1, 2014. The purpose of this study was to determine the indoor levels of concentrations of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) in implemented and non-implemented pubs in Seoul and Changwon. Methods: PM2.5 concentrations in fifty-two 100-150 m 2 (implemented) and fifty-seven <100 m (nonimplemented) pubs were measured. A real-time aerosol monitor was used to measure PM2.5 concentrations. Field technicians recorded characteristics of the pubs including net indoor area, indoor volume and presence of smoking rooms and counted the number of burning cigarettes, patrons and vents. Results: Differences between indoor and outdoor PM2.5 concentrations in 100-150 m 2 and <100 m pubs were not significantly different in each city. Smoking was observed in 33% of 100-150 m pubs and 51% of <100 m pubs. Average differences between indoor and outdoor PM2.5 concentrations in the 100-150 m 2 and <100 m pubs were 79.2 μg/m and 155.6 μg/m, respectively. When smokers were not observed, differences between indoor and outdoor PM2.5 concentrations ware 12.4 μg/m 3 in 100-150 m pubs and 24.5 μg/m in <100 m pubs. Conclusion: Although the regulation was implemented only in ≥100 m pubs, a higher difference between indoor and outdoor PM2.5 concentrations was observed in implemented and non-implemented pubs with smokers. Strict implementation of the regulation in all pubs is needed for better indoor air quality.

Health risk assessment of dermal and inhalation exposure to deodorants in Korea

In Korea, humidifiers that include biocidal ingredients have caused serious lung injuries and deaths. After these incidents, public concern regarding the use of chemicals in products (i.e., chemical phobia) increased. Frequent health risk assessments and stringent management of consumer products are, therefore, of paramount importance to reduce these serious occurrences. In this study, the irritative and respiratory health effects of deodorants were assessed in relation to dermal and inhalation exposure. In total, 64 deodorants were divided into 5 groups by application type, and health risk assessments were conducted on each group. In total, 26 fragrance ingredients and 27 biocidal ingredients were analyzed and assessed according to their risk to human health. Exposure assessment was performed in two steps. In the tiered 1 assessment (screening), the 95th exposure factor values were used to estimate exposure to assume the worst-case scenario. The maximum concentration in the deodorants was used without considering the application type. In the tiered 2 assessment (detail assessment), the 75th exposure factor values were used to estimate the assumed reasonable exposure to ingredients. In these assessments, the maximum concentration used in the exposure models was determined by the product purpose and application type. The values input into the exposure algorithms were developed via the exposure route. Of the selected fragrance and biocidal active ingredients, 18 fragrance and 13 biocidal ingredients were detected in the deodorants that were assessed. From the results of the tiered 1 assessment, it was necessary for tiered 2 risk assessments to be conducted for 6 ingredients for the inhalation route, and 13 ingredients for the dermal route. The inhalation margin of exposure of ingredients in deodorants of gel/trigger/spray types for home/car and fabric/air usage was above the target margin of exposure. The health risk of 6 evaluated ingredients was relatively low for the inhalation route of exposure. This study showed that the assessed ingredients have no health risks at their maximum concentrations in deodorants. The approach discussed in this study should be used to establish improved guidelines for specific ingredients in consumer products, and for setting limits for newly developed raw materials that may pose dermal and inhalation hazard.

Risk assessment to human health: Consumer exposure to ingredients in air fresheners

Ingredient chemicals like fragrances may cause adverse health effects. Frequent health risk assessments and stringent management of consumer products are of paramount importance to reduce these serious occurrences. In this study, the respiratory and dermal health effects were assessed in relation to air fresheners. Twenty six fragrance ingredients, thirty four biocidal ingredients, and sixteen hazardous ingredients were analyzed and assessed according to their risk to human health on five groups by application type in eighty two air fresheners. For hazard characterization of ingredients, toxicological information on the intrinsic properties of the ingredients was collected, and reference values were determined as chronic NOAEL. Exposure assessment was performed in two steps. The 95th exposure factor values were used to estimate exposure to assume the worst-case scenario and the maximum concentration determined by the product purpose and application type was used type in tiered 1 assessment. The values input into the exposure algorithms were developed via the exposure route. In the tiered 2 assessment, the 75th exposure factor values were used to estimate the assumed reasonable exposure to ingredients. Six ingredients for the inhalation and twelve ingredients for the dermal route were conducted for tiered 2 assessment. This study showed that the assessed ingredients have no health risks at their maximum concentrations in air fresheners. The approach should be used to establish improved guidelines for specific ingredients that may pose inhalation and dermal hazard.

Impact of exposure factor selection on deterministic consumer exposure assessment

ABSTRACT Deterministic exposure assessment has uncertainty about the selection of input parameters on the resulting estimates. The purpose of this study was to compare inhalation exposures estimated by a specific percentile of each of the three exposure factors in deterministic assessment with population exposure. Exposure to nine household care products, namely a deodorizer, six cleaning products, and two disinfectants were investigated. The population exposures were individually calculated for three exposure factors (frequency of use, amount of use, and duration of use) from an existing database of 3333 participants representing the national population. Deterministic exposure assessment was conducted according to various percentiles of exposure factors. 99th percentiles of population exposure in all nine consumer products were 1.3–2.4 times greater than the 95th percentiles. Inhalation exposures based on the 75th percentiles of each of the three exposure factors in deterministic assessment were much lower than the 95th percentiles of the population exposure. Deterministic exposure estimates using 85th to 99th percentiles of each of the three exposure factors were closer to the 95th percentiles of the population exposure. We concluded that exposure factors in deterministic assessment should be greater than the 75th percentile to more precisely estimate exposure of at‐risk groups. HighlightsConsumer exposures to deodorizer, cleaning products, and disinfectants were estimated by deterministic assessment.Exposures using the 75th percentiles of each of the three exposure factors underestimated at risk exposure.At least 85th percentile of each of the three exposure factors should be used to determine at‐risk exposure.

Health Risk Assessment on Hazardous Ingredients in Household Deodorizing Products

The inhalation of a water aerosol from a humidifier containing disinfectants has led to serious lung injuries in Korea. To promote the safe use of products, the Korean government enacted regulations on the chemicals in various consumer products that could have adverse health effects. Given the concern over the potential health risks associated with the hazardous ingredients in deodorizing consumer products, 17 ingredients were analyzed and assessed according to their health risk on 3 groups by the application type in 47 deodorizing products. The risk assessment study followed a stepwise procedure (e.g., collecting toxicological information, hazard identification/exposure assessment, and screening and detailed assessment for inhalation and dermal routes). The worst-case scenario and maximum concentration determined by the product purpose and application type were used as the screening assessment. In a detailed assessment, the 75th exposure factor values were used to estimate the assumed reasonable exposure to ingredients. The exposed concentrations of seven ingredients were calculated. Due to limitation of toxicity information, butylated hydroxyl toluene for a consumer’s exposure via the dermal route only was conducted for a detailed assessment. This study showed that the assessed ingredients have no health risks at their maximum concentrations in deodorizing products. This approach can be used to establish guidelines for ingredients that may pose inhalation and dermal hazards.

Determining Exposure Factors of Anti-Fogging, Dye, Disinfectant, Repellent, and Preservative Products in Korea

Reliable exposure factors are essential to determine health risks posed by chemicals in consumer products. We analyzed five risk-concerned product categories (anti-fogging, dye, disinfectant, repellent, and preservative products) for 13 products (three car anti-fogging products, a lens anti-fogging product, two car dye products, two drain disinfectants, an air conditioner disinfectant, a chlorine-based disinfectant, a fabric repellent, an insect repellent for food, and a wood preservative) considered to be of high risk in order to determine exposure factors via web surveys and estimation of amount of product. Among the 3000 participants (1482 (49%) men) aged ≥19 years, drain disinfectants were used most frequently (38.2%); the rate of usage of the other products ranged between 1.1–24.0%. The usage rates for the consumer products differed by sex, age, income, and education. Some consumer products such as car and lens anti-fogging products, chlorine-based disinfectants, fabric repellents, and drain disinfectants were regularly used more than once a month, while car dye products, air conditioner disinfectants, insect repellents for food, and wood preservatives were not regularly used owing to the specific product purposes and seasonal needs. Our results could be used for managing or controlling chemical substances in consumer products and conducting accurate exposure assessments.