Survey and risk assessment of chemical substances in rugs for children Survey of chemical substances in consumer products No. 147, 2016 Titel: Forfattere: Survey and risk assessment of chemical substances Helene Bendstrup Klinke, Sie Woldum Tordrup, Thomas Witterseh, in rugs for children Johnny Rodam, Nils H. Nilsson -Danish Technological Institute Poul Bo Larsen - DHI Udgiver: The Danish Environmental Protection Agency Strandgade 29 1401 København K www.mst.dk År: ISBN nr. 2016 978-87-93435-98-8 Disclaimer: The Danish Environmental Protection Agency publishes reports and papers about research and development projects within the environmental sector, financed by the Agency. The contents of this publication do not necessarily represent the official views of the Danish Environmental Protection Agency. By publishing this report, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency expresses that the content represents an important contribution to the related discourse on Danish environmental policy. Sources must be acknowledged. 2 Survey and risk assessment of chemical substances in rugs for children Contents Contents .................................................................................................................... 3 Preface ...................................................................................................................... 6 Summary and Conclusion .......................................................................................... 7 Sammenfatning og konklusion ................................................................................. 11 1. Introduction and background ........................................................................... 15 2. Survey ............................................................................................................... 17 2.1 Purpose ............................................................................................................................... 17 2.2 Definitions and delimitation ............................................................................................. 17 2.3 Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) ................................................................................ 18 2.3.1 Literature survey of VOCs ................................................................................................ 18 2.3.2 Emission tests of VOCs from carpets at the Danish Technological Institute ................. 20 2.3.3 Conclusion of the VOC survey ........................................................................................... 21 2.4 Phthalates .......................................................................................................................... 23 2.4.1 Literature Survey of phthalates ........................................................................................ 23 2.4.2 Conclusion of the phthalates survey ................................................................................ 24 2.5 Fluorinated substances ..................................................................................................... 25 2.5.1 Literature survey of fluorinated substances (PFAS)........................................................ 26 2.5.2 Conclusion of the literature survey of fluorinated substances (PFAS) ........................... 28 2.6 Identified substances of concern in rugs ......................................................................... 30 2.7 Labelling schemes for rugs ............................................................................................... 32 2.7.1 Gemeinschaft umweltfreundlicher Teppichboden (GUT) .............................................. 32 2.7.2 Oeko-Tex® ........................................................................................................................ 32 2.8 Survey of children’s rugs on the market .......................................................................... 33 3. Hazard assessment and development of exposure scenarios ............................. 37 3.1 Health basis for the selection of substances .................................................................... 37 3.2 Hazard assessment ........................................................................................................... 38 3.2.1 Hazard assessment of volatile organic compounds (VOC) ............................................. 39 3.2.2 Hazard assessment of phthalates ..................................................................................... 42 3.2.3 Hazard assessment of fluorinated compounds ................................................................ 43 3.3 Evaluation of the fate of VOC in the indoor environment .............................................. 44 3.4 Exposure scenarios ........................................................................................................... 45 3.4.1 Exposure considerations when using rugs....................................................................... 45 Survey and risk assessment of chemical substances in rugs for children 3 3.4.2 Calculation of concentrations of substances in children’s rooms ................................... 46 3.4.3 Routes of exposure ............................................................................................................ 46 3.4.4 Assessment of the relative importance of the exposure routes ....................................... 47 3.5 Conclusion for the generation of exposure scenarios ...................................................... 48 4. Analyses of children’s rugs ............................................................................... 50 4.1 Selection of children’s rugs for analysis ........................................................................... 50 4.2 Analysis programme ......................................................................................................... 52 4.3 Methods ............................................................................................................................. 53 4.3.1 Sampling............................................................................................................................ 53 4.3.2 Analysis of total fluorine ................................................................................................... 53 4.3.3 Sensory evaluation of odour ............................................................................................. 53 4.3.4 Analysis of volatile compounds (VOC)............................................................................. 54 4.3.5 Analysis of content of phthalates ..................................................................................... 55 4.3.6 Analysis of fluorinated single substances (PFAS) ........................................................... 55 4.4 Results from initial examinations for odour and content of fluorine ............................. 56 4.4.1 Screening by sensory evaluation of odour ....................................................................... 56 4.4.2 Initial test of content of fluorine ...................................................................................... 57 4.4.3 Conclusion of initial screening for odour and content of fluorine .................................. 58 4.5 Results from analysis of volatile compounds (VOCs) ..................................................... 58 4.5.1 Very volatile C1-C4 aldehydes (VVOC) ............................................................................ 58 4.5.2 Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) ................................................................................ 60 4.5.3 Total emissions of VOC and SVOC ................................................................................... 63 4.6 Content of Phthalates ....................................................................................................... 65 4.7 Content of fluorinated substances (PFAS) ....................................................................... 66 4.8 Conclusions, chemical analysis of VOC, phthalates and PFAS ....................................... 67 5. Health based risk assessment ........................................................................... 72 5.1 Methods for risk assessment ............................................................................................ 72 5.2 Selection of rugs for risk and exposure assessments ....................................................... 72 5.2.1 Emission and calculation of room concentration of VOC substances ............................ 72 5.2.2 Selection of rugs with content of critical phthalates and PFAS ...................................... 74 5.3 Risk assessment ................................................................................................................ 75 5.3.1 Risk assessment for emission from the rugs (VOC) ........................................................ 75 5.3.2 Risk assessment of content of phthalates ........................................................................ 78 5.3.3 Risk assessment of perfluorinated substances ................................................................ 78 5.4 Overall health assessment and perspectivation ............................................................... 78 6. Resource assessment ........................................................................................ 80 7. Abbreviations ................................................................................................... 84 References .............................................................................................................