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The Development of Testing Methods for Characterizing Emissions and Sources of Exposures from Polyurethane Products
Citation:
Mason, M., Ken Krebs, C. Bevington, AND C. Hetfield. The Development of Testing Methods for Characterizing Emissions and Sources of Exposures from Polyurethane Products. To be Presented at Isocyanates & Health 2012: Past, Present, and Future, Bethesda, MD, November 01 - 02, 2012.
Impact/Purpose:
This poster presents information about ORD research to support the development of test methods to characterize emissions from spray polyurethane insulation, a potential source of exposure to isocyanates, amines, aldehydes, flame retardants, and other chemicals to an audience with primary interests in isocyanate exposure and health issues.
Description:
The relationship between onsite manufacture of spray polyurethane foam insulation (SPFI) and potential exposures is not well understood. Currently, no comprehensive standard test methods exist for characterizing and quantifying product emissions. Exposures to diisocyanate compounds, amine catalysts, flame retardants, and blowing agents, as well as aldehydes and other volatile or semivolatile organic compounds that may be emitted as the product cures and afterward, are of interest. EPA, along with federal and other partners, is investigating protocols for characterizing chemical emission rates from SPF products. This supports the ASTM Committee D 22.05 SPFI emissions test method development task, a critical component of a broader strategy to develop chamber emissions test methods specific to SPFI, and assessment tools and models to relate product emissions to potential exposures.