1
|
Fahy WD, Wania F, Abbatt JPD. When Does Multiphase Chemistry Influence Indoor Chemical Fate? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:4257-4267. [PMID: 38380897 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c08751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Human chemical exposure often occurs indoors, where large variability in contaminant concentrations and indoor chemical dynamics make assessments of these exposures challenging. A major source of uncertainty lies in the rates of chemical transformations which, due to high surface-to-volume ratios and rapid air change rates relative to rates of gas-phase reactions indoors, are largely gas-surface multiphase processes. It remains unclear how important such chemistry is in controlling indoor chemical lifetimes and, therefore, human exposure to both parent compounds and transformation products. We present a multimedia steady-state fugacity-based model to assess the importance of multiphase chemistry relative to cleaning and mass transfer losses, examine how the physicochemical properties of compounds and features of the indoor environment affect these processes, and investigate uncertainties pertaining to indoor multiphase chemistry and chemical lifetimes. We find that multiphase reactions can play an important role in chemical fate indoors for reactive compounds with low volatility, i.e., octanol-air equilibrium partitioning ratios (Koa) above 108, with the impact of this chemistry dependent on chemical identity, oxidant type and concentration, and other parameters. This work highlights the need for further research into indoor chemical dynamics and multiphase chemistry to constrain human exposure to chemicals in the built environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William D Fahy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Frank Wania
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto at Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Jonathan P D Abbatt
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bechu AM, Roy MA, Jacobs M, Tickner JA. Alternatives assessment: An analysis on progress and future needs for research and practice. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2023. [PMID: 38124425 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Alternatives assessment is a science-policy approach to support the informed substitution of chemicals of concern in consumer products and industries, with the intent of avoiding regrettable substitution and facilitating the transition to safer, more sustainable chemicals and products. The field of alternatives assessment has grown steadily in recent decades, particularly after the publication of specific frameworks and the inclusion of substitution and alternatives assessment requirements in a number of policy contexts. Previously, 14 research and practice needs for the field were outlined across five critical areas: comparative hazard assessment, comparative exposure characterization, lifecycle considerations, decision-making and decision analysis, and professional practice. The aim of the current article is twofold: to highlight methodological advances in the growing field of alternatives assessment based on identified research and practice needs and to propose areas for future developments. We assess advances in the field based on the analysis of a broad literature review that captured 154 sources published from 2013 to 2022. The results indicate that research conducted advanced many of the needs identified, but several remain underaddressed. Although the field has clearly grown and taken root over the past decade, there are still research and practice gaps, most notably on the hazard assessment of mixtures or different forms of chemicals, the integration of lifecycle considerations, and the development of practical approaches to address trade-offs in decision-making. We propose modifications to four of the prior research and practice needs in addition to new needs, including the development of standardized hazard assessment approaches for chemical mixtures as well as better integration of equity and/or justice considerations into assessments. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-18. © 2023 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aude M Bechu
- Sustainable Chemistry Catalyst, Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Monika A Roy
- Sustainable Chemistry Catalyst, Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Molly Jacobs
- Sustainable Chemistry Catalyst, Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joel A Tickner
- Sustainable Chemistry Catalyst, Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ciffroy P, Mertens B, Van Hoeck E, Van Overmeire I, Johansson E, Alfonso B, Baderna D, Selvestrel G, Benfenati E. Modeling the migration of chemicals from food contact materials to food: The MERLIN-expo/VERMEER toolbox. Food Chem Toxicol 2022; 166:113118. [PMID: 35605713 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2022.113118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Evaluating the migration of chemicals from food contact materials (FCM) into food is a key step in the safety assessment of such materials. In this paper, a simple mechanistic model describing the migration of chemicals from FCM to food was combined with quantitative property-property relationships (QPPRs) for the prediction of diffusion coefficients and FCM-Food partition coefficients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the performance of these operational models in the prediction of a chemical's concentration in food in contact with a plastic monolayer FCM. A comparison to experimental migration values reported in literature was conducted. Deterministic simulations showed a good match between predicted and experimental values. The tested models can be used to provide insights in the amount and the type of toxicological data that are needed for the safety evaluation of the FCM substance. Uncertainty in QPPRs used for describing the processes of both diffusion in FCM and partition at the FCM-Food interface was included in the analysis. Combining uncertainty in QPPR predictions, it was shown that the third quartile (75th percentile) derived from probabilistic calculations can be used as a conservative value in the prediction of chemical concentration in food, with reasonable safety factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P Ciffroy
- EDF, Division Recherche et Développement, Laboratoire National d'Hydraulique et Environnement, 6 quai Watier, 78401, Chatou, France.
| | - B Mertens
- Chemical and Physical Health Risks, Sciensano, Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - E Van Hoeck
- Chemical and Physical Health Risks, Sciensano, Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - I Van Overmeire
- Chemical and Physical Health Risks, Sciensano, Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - E Johansson
- AFRY, Facilia Sweden Section, Frösundaleden 2, SE16970, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - B Alfonso
- AFRY, Facilia Sweden Section, Frösundaleden 2, SE16970, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - D Baderna
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, 20156, Milano, Italy
| | - G Selvestrel
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, 20156, Milano, Italy
| | - E Benfenati
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, 20156, Milano, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Salthammer T, Morrison GC. Temperature and indoor environments. INDOOR AIR 2022; 32:e13022. [PMID: 35622714 DOI: 10.1111/ina.13022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
From the thermodynamic perspective, the term temperature is clearly defined for ideal physical systems: A unique temperature can be assigned to each black body via its radiation spectrum, and the temperature of an ideal gas is given by the velocity distribution of the molecules. While the indoor environment is not an ideal system, fundamental physical and chemical processes, such as diffusion, partitioning equilibria, and chemical reactions, are predictably temperature-dependent. For example, the logarithm of reaction rate and equilibria constants are proportional to the reciprocal of the absolute temperature. It is therefore possible to have non-linear, very steep changes in chemical phenomena over a relatively small temperature range. On the contrary, transport processes are more influenced by spatial temperature, momentum, and pressure gradients as well as by the density, porosity, and composition of indoor materials. Consequently, emergent phenomena, such as emission rates or dynamic air concentrations, can be the result of complex temperature-dependent relationships that require a more empirical approach. Indoor environmental conditions are further influenced by the thermal comfort needs of occupants. Not only do occupants have to create thermal conditions that serve to maintain their core body temperature, which is usually accomplished by wearing appropriate clothing, but also the surroundings must be adapted so that they feel comfortable. This includes the interaction of the living space with the ambient environment, which can vary greatly by region and season. Design of houses, apartments, commercial buildings, and schools is generally utility and comfort driven, requiring an appropriate energy balance, sometimes considering ventilation but rarely including the impact of temperature on indoor contaminant levels. In our article, we start with a review of fundamental thermodynamic variables and discuss their influence on typical indoor processes. Then, we describe the heat balance of people in their thermal environment. An extensive literature study is devoted to the thermal conditions in buildings, the temperature-dependent release of indoor pollutants from materials and their distribution in the various interior compartments as well as aspects of indoor chemistry. Finally, we assess the need to consider temperature holistically with regard to the changes to be expected as a result of global emergencies such as climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tunga Salthammer
- Department of Material Analysis and Indoor Chemistry, Fraunhofer WKI, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Glenn C Morrison
- Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Aurisano N, Fantke P, Huang L, Jolliet O. Estimating mouthing exposure to chemicals in children's products. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2022; 32:94-102. [PMID: 34188178 PMCID: PMC8770116 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-021-00354-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Existing models for estimating children's exposure to chemicals through mouthing currently depends on the availability of chemical- and material-specific experimental migration rates, only covering a few dozen chemicals. OBJECTIVE This study objective is hence to develop a mouthing exposure model to predict migration into saliva, mouthing exposure, and related health risk from a wide range of chemical-material combinations in children's products. METHODS We collected experimental data on chemical migration from different products into saliva for multiple substance groups and materials, identifying chemical concentration and diffusion coefficient as main properties of influence. To predict migration rates into saliva, we adapted a previously developed migration model for chemicals in food packaging materials. We also developed a regression model based on identified chemical and material properties. RESULTS Our migration predictions correlate well with experimental data (R2 = 0.85) and vary widely from 8 × 10-7 to 32.7 µg/10 cm2/min, with plasticizers in PVC showing the highest values. Related mouthing exposure doses vary across chemicals and materials from a median of 0.005 to 253 µg/kgBW/d. Finally, we combined exposure estimates with toxicity information to yield hazard quotients and identify chemicals of concern for average and upper bound mouthing behavior scenarios. SIGNIFICANCE The proposed model can be applied for predicting migration rates for hundreds of chemical-material combinations to support high-throughput screening.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Aurisano
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment, Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Technical University of Denmark, Produktionstorvet 424, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Peter Fantke
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment, Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Technical University of Denmark, Produktionstorvet 424, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Lei Huang
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Olivier Jolliet
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Jolliet O, Huang L, Hou P, Fantke P. High Throughput Risk and Impact Screening of Chemicals in Consumer Products. RISK ANALYSIS : AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOCIETY FOR RISK ANALYSIS 2021; 41:627-644. [PMID: 33073419 PMCID: PMC8246852 DOI: 10.1111/risa.13604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2020] [Revised: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The ubiquitous presence of more than 80,000 chemicals in thousands of consumer products used on a daily basis stresses the need for screening a broader set of chemicals than the traditional well-studied suspect chemicals. This high-throughput screening combines stochastic chemical-product usage with mass balance-based exposure models and toxicity data to prioritize risks associated with household products. We first characterize product usage using the stochastic SHEDS-HT model and chemical content in common household products from the CPDat database, the chemical amounts applied daily varying over more than six orders of magnitude, from mg to kg. We then estimate multi-pathways near- and far-field exposures for 5,500 chemical-product combinations, applying an extended USEtox model to calculate product intake fractions ranging from 0.001 to ∼1, and exposure doses varying over more than nine orders of magnitude. Combining exposure doses with chemical-specific dose-responses and reference doses shows that risks can be substantial for multiple home maintenance products, such as paints or paint strippers, for some home-applied pesticides, leave-on personal care products, and cleaning products. Sixty percent of the chemical-product combinations have hazard quotients exceeding 1, and 9% of the combinations have lifetime cancer risks exceeding 10-4 . Population-level impacts of household products ingredients can be substantial, representing 5 to 100 minutes of healthy life lost per day, with users' exposures up to 103 minutes per day. To address this issue, present mass balance-based models are already able to provide exposure estimates for both users and populations. This screening study shows large variations of up to 10 orders of magnitude in impact across both chemicals and product combinations, demonstrating that prioritization based on hazard only is not acceptable, since it would neglect orders of magnitude variations in both product usage and exposure that need to be quantified. To address this, the USEtox suite of mass balance-based models is already able to provide exposure estimates for thousands of product-chemical combinations for both users and populations. The present study calls for more scrutiny of most impacting chemical-product combinations, fully ensuring from a regulatory perspective consumer product safety for high-end users and using protective measures for users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Jolliet
- Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public HealthUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMIUSA
| | - Lei Huang
- Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public HealthUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMIUSA
| | - Ping Hou
- School for Environment and SustainabilityUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMIUSA
| | - Peter Fantke
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment, Department of Technology, Management and EconomicsTechnical University of Denmark2800 KgsLyngbyDenmark
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Aurisano N, Huang L, Milà I Canals L, Jolliet O, Fantke P. Chemicals of concern in plastic toys. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 146:106194. [PMID: 33115697 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
We present a list of Chemicals of Concern (CoCs) in plastic toys. We started from available studies reporting chemical composition of toys to group plastic materials, as well as to gather mass fractions and function of chemicals in these materials. Chemical emissions from plastic toys and subsequent human exposures were then estimated using a series of models and a coupled near-field and far-field exposure assessment framework. Comparing human doses with reference doses shows high Hazard Quotients of up to 387 and cancer risk calculated using cancer slope factors of up to 0.0005. Plasticizers in soft plastic materials show the highest risk, with 31 out of the 126 chemicals identified as CoCs, with sum of Hazard Quotients >1 or child cancer risk >10-6. Our results indicate that a relevant amount of chemicals used in plastic toy materials may pose a non-negligible health risk to children, calling for more refined investigations and more human- and eco-friendly alternatives. The 126 chemicals identified as CoCs were compared with other existing regulatory prioritization lists. While some of our chemicals appear in other lists, we also identified additional priority chemicals that are not yet covered elsewhere and thus require further attention. We finally derive for all considered chemicals the maximum Acceptable Chemical Content (ACC) in the grouped toy plastic materials as powerful green chemistry tool to check whether chemical alternatives could create substantial risks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Aurisano
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment, Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Technical University of Denmark, Produktionstorvet 424, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Lei Huang
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Llorenç Milà I Canals
- Economy Division, United Nations Environment Programme, 1 Rue de Miollis, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Olivier Jolliet
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Peter Fantke
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment, Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Technical University of Denmark, Produktionstorvet 424, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Huang L, Jolliet O. A combined quantitative property-property relationship (QPPR) for estimating packaging-food and solid material-water partition coefficients of organic compounds. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 658:493-500. [PMID: 30579206 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Revised: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The packaging-food partition coefficient (Kpf) is a key parameter to estimate the chemical migration from packaging to food and resulting ingestion exposures. As a particular case of Kpf, the solid material-water partition coefficient (Kmw) is also important in relating the material to the water phase-based skin permeation coefficient to further assess dermal contact exposure to chemicals in solid consumer products. Existing correlations to estimate Kpf or Kmw are applicable for a limited number of chemical-food-packaging or chemical-material combinations without considering the temperature effect. The present study develops a combined quantitative property-property relationship (QPPR) to predict Kpf and Kmw with a wide applicability. We compiled a dataset of 1846 measured Kpf or Kmw for 232 chemicals in 19 consolidated material types. A regression model predicts Kpf or Kmw as a function of chemical's Kow, food or water's ethanol equivalency, temperature and material type, which shows good fitting performance with R2adj of 0.93, and has been verified by internal and external validations to be robust, stable and has good predicting ability (R2ext > 0.80). A generic QPPR is also developed to predict Kpf or Kmw from chemical's Kow, food or water's ethanol equivalency, and temperature only (R2adj = 0.90), without the need to assign a specific material type. These QPPRs provide a comprehensive correlation method to estimate Kpf for diverse chemical-food-packaging combinations or to estimate Kmw for materials other than food packaging, which will facilitate high-throughput assessments of consumer exposures to chemicals in food packaging and in other solid materials such as building materials, furniture and toys.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Huang
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Abor, MI, USA.
| | - Olivier Jolliet
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Abor, MI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Huang L, Jolliet O. A quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) for estimating solid material-air partition coefficients of organic compounds. INDOOR AIR 2019; 29:79-88. [PMID: 30295963 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The material-air partition coefficient (Kma ) is a key parameter to estimate the release of chemicals incorporated in solid materials and resulting human exposures. Existing correlations to estimate Kma are applicable for a limited number of chemical-material combinations without considering the effect of temperature. The present study develops a quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) to predict Kma for a large number of chemical-material combinations. We compiled a dataset of 991 measured Kma for 179 chemicals in 22 consolidated material types. A multiple linear regression model predicts Kma as a function of chemical's Koa , enthalpy of vaporization (∆Hv ), temperature, and material type. The model shows good fitting of the experimental dataset with adjusted R2 of 0.93 and has been verified by internal and external validations to be robust, stable and has good predicting ability ( Rext2 > 0.78). A generic QSPR is also developed to predict Kma from chemical properties and temperature only (adjusted R2 = 0.84), without the need to assign a specific material type. These QSPRs provide correlation methods to estimate Kma for a wide range of organic chemicals and materials, which will facilitate high-throughput estimates of human exposures for chemicals in solid materials, particularly building materials and furniture.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Huang
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Abor, Michigan
| | - Olivier Jolliet
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Abor, Michigan
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ernstoff AS, Fantke P, Huang L, Jolliet O. High-throughput migration modelling for estimating exposure to chemicals in food packaging in screening and prioritization tools. Food Chem Toxicol 2017; 109:428-438. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2017.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2017] [Revised: 06/09/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|