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VOC's Perfumed Menace

VOC's Perfumed Menace. Outline. What are VOCs? Where do they come from? What health effects do VOCs cause? How can I tell if I have any? What limits are there? Sampling methods How can I control them? Scent-free policies Conclusion.

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VOC's Perfumed Menace

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  1. VOC's Perfumed Menace

  2. Outline • What are VOCs? • Where do they come from? • What health effects do VOCs cause? • How can I tell if I have any? • What limits are there? • Sampling methods • How can I control them? • Scent-free policies • Conclusion

  3. What are VOCs?Volatile organic compounds(From Oxford English Dictionary) • Volatile - easily evaporated at normal temperatures • Organic - relating to or denoting compounds containing carbon and chiefly or ultimately of biological origin • Compounds - substance formed from two or more elements chemically united in fixed proportions

  4. What are VOCs? • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that evaporate easily at room temperature • VOC exposures are often associated with an odor while other times there is no detectable odor. Both can be harmful. • There are thousands of different VOCs produced and used in our daily lives.

  5. What are they really? • VOC’s are the odors and aromas that we smell all around us • Perfumes • Fragrances for soaps and shampoos • Hairspray • Deodorants • Scented candles, incense, potpourri • Cosmetics • Washroom deordorizer • Flowers, plants and trees

  6. What are they really? • And ……….. • Smelly socks • My son’s sneakers • My dog after being out in the rain • Grandma’s pot roast • The can of “new car smell” that I bought • Bovine flatulence

  7. Perfumes and Fragrances • $22 000 000 000 sales worldwide in 2004

  8. Fragrance ChemicalsIngredients that Smell of Danger • 90% of fragrances are synthetic chemical, with as many as 7000 VOCs • Some of these masking scents are designed to cover up unpleasant or unwanted odours inherent in a product, but some work by deadening our ability to smell the offending odour. • Of fragrance chemicals, “84% of these ingredients have never or only minimally been tested for human toxicity”

  9. Calvin Klein's Perfume “Eternity“A Shortcut to Eternity? • “Eternity” perfume has been known since 1995 as toxic to the respiratory tract and nervous system • Analysis by two independent laboratories found of the 41 identified ingredients some had no toxicity data available, some were inadequate, and some were known to be toxic to the skin, mucous membranes, respiratory tract, and reproductive and nervous systems by routes including skin absorption and inhalation. • Two ingredients were identified as carcinogens

  10. Living in a Fragranced WorldNo Scents in Labelling • “Unscented”, “Fragrance-Free” “Hypoallergenic”, “Natural”, “Green” “Floral”, “Outdoor Fresh” and “Environmentally Friendly” are words that sound good but have no legal definition. They are used in industry virtually without restriction. Buyer beware. • “Scent-free” may only mean that the product has less scent than a scented version of the same product from that manufacturer.

  11. VOCs are also Emitted by Thousands of Products In our Workplaces • paints, lacquers and strippers • cleaning supplies • pesticides • building materials, carpeting and furnishings • office equipment such as copiers and printers, especially new things • correction fluids and carbonless copy paper • graphics and craft materials including glues and adhesives, permanent markers • photographic solutions • Fuel

  12. Sources of Common VOCs

  13. Factor that influence the emissions of VOCs • Total amount and volatility of VOCs • Distribution of VOCs between the surface and the interior of material • Time (age of material) • Surface area of the material • Environmental factors such as temperature, air exchange, and relative humidity (some more than others) • Chemical reactions in the source (conversions in varnishes and adhesives)

  14. Relative Volatility See International Chemical Safety Cards at http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/cis/products/icsc/dtasht/

  15. Relative Emission Rates

  16. VOC Emissions Vs. Age(ug/hour/m2 of total VOCs)

  17. VOC distribution • VOC exposure is mostly from indoor sources because: • VOCs are more concentrated indoors • People spend more time indoors 90 % • New buildings can have VOC concentrations 100 x outdoor concentrations • VOCs are everywhere, even in the country • Many come from natural sources • Decay • Farm wastes • Flowers, plants, trees

  18. VOCs from Natural Sources • Forests • Grasslands • Swamps • Plants • SWEETGUM TREE

  19. How VOCs Enter the Body? • VOCs are present in gas or vapour so enter the body by breathing • Drinking water, food, beverages containing high levels of VOCs may be harmful to human health

  20. After VOCs Enter the Body Via Inhalation? • Some are absorbed by the upper respiratory system • Others, depending on the size and mass are able to reach deep into the lungs • VOCs can be carried by the blood stream to a variety of organs ( liver, kidney) or systems (central nervous system and circulatory) depending on their chemical properties (solubility in blood. Volatility to escape blood and their ability to be broken down)

  21. Acute Eye irritation / watering Nose irritation Throat irritation Headaches Nausea / Vomiting Dizziness Asthma exacerbation Chronic Cancer Liver damage Kidney damage Central Nervous System damage What are the health effects of VOC exposure?

  22. Benzene Cigarette smoke Carbon black Carbon tetrachloride Chloroform Diesel/gasoline engine exhaust Formaldehyde Gasoline Methylene chloride Naphthalene Perchloroethylene PCB Styrene Toulene diisocyanate Common Carcinogenic VOCs

  23. So Do I Have VOCs? • Quick answer – You do. VOCs are everywhere!!! • So what is the real question??? • Do I have too much?????

  24. Facts & Findings • TVOC levels indoors are generally 10 to 100 times higher than outdoor levels. • TVOC levels in new buildings and renovated indoor spaces are up to 30 mg/m3 • TVOC levels in non-complaint buildings range from 0.20 to 0.50 mg/m3

  25. Human Irritation Responses to TVOC Mixtures

  26. Sampling for VOCs • Organic Vapour Badges • Advantages • Easy to use • Lightweight • Low capital cost • Disadvantages • Lower accuracy • Lower sensitivity • Require longer sampling time

  27. Sampling for VOCs • Pumps and filters • Advantages • Higher sensitivity • Higher degree of accuracy • Average sampling time • Disadvantages • Higher capital cost • Heavier weight for wearer

  28. Sampling for VOCs • Real-time Monitors • Advantages • Monitoring for unlimited time • Minute by minute reading • Data can be logged into a computer • Can be used as a tracking machine to find sources • Disadvantages • Often only test for one chemical at a time • Very expensive

  29. Investigation TechniquesGeneral Screening • Look for obvious or uncontrolled emissions • Changes or new things • Open containers, overused chemicals • Use screening techniques to determine the potential sources that may require more sensitive and accurate evaluation or may require action • Collect screening samples using detector tubes or direct reading instruments. • Based on screening results, validated sampling procedures may be required to further quantify employee exposures.

  30. How Can I Get Rid of Them • Scent Free Policies • Chose products that contain low or no VOCs (Environmentally Preferable Purchasing) • Follow Manufacturer’s instructions/don’t mix products • Control climate – as temperature and humidity increase some chemicals will off gas more • Air cleaners – look for ones with activated charcoal filtration designed to remove chemicals from the air. • Remove unused chemicals. Only buy in quantities you will use soon • Off gas products first • Ventilation • More fresh air; open doors and windows • Local exhaust

  31. Scent Free Policy Issues • Scope • Probably include cosmetics, cleaners • What about flowers, Christmas trees, spicy food? • What about odours from outside? • Visitors? • How will you tell them? • Will you send them home? • Enforcement • Will the policy be enforced? • Alternatives • Are you sure there are alternatives to what is being banned?

  32. Alternatives to a Scent-Free Policy? • Identify the source of the problem. Reduce emissions from • building materials • cleaning products • Ventilation • Ensure that air is being replaced with fresh air, and that scents are not simply being recycled throughout the building. • If the source is an employee, try asking the person to wear a lighter scent, or less of it. • As a guideline no scent should be detectable at more than an arm's length from individual.

  33. ConclusionsVOCs are everywhere – can’t eliminateAim is to control themChoose low VOC products and minimize how much is usedTiming Storing (wearhouse- off gas)Time processes ( over weekend )Ventilation

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