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Emissions of Fluorotelomer Alcohols from Consumer Products
Citation:
Liu, X., Z. Robbins, AND P. Egeghy. Emissions of Fluorotelomer Alcohols from Consumer Products. International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) 2023 Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, August 27 - 31, 2023.
Impact/Purpose:
The indoor environment is one of the primary pathways for exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) due to direct (i.e., skin contact or ingestion) or indirect exposures (i.e., inhalation of suspended particles and gases) to consumer products and building materials. Although airborne fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) have been characterized in occupational settings, the residential indoor air burden of FTOHs from consumer products, building materials, and household dust is not well understood. Data for key parameters controlling emissions of FTOHs from consumer products (i.e., initial concentrations, emission rates, etc.) are still limited in the literature. This work reports FTOHs emissions from consumer products tested in micro emission chambers. The emission pattern and the emission parameters obtained from this work will provide information and support per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) inhalation exposure assessment by modelers.
Description:
Although airborne fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) have been characterized in occupational settings, the residential indoor air burden of FTOHs from consumer products, building materials, and household dust is not well understood. Data for key parameters controlling emissions of FTOHs from consumer products (i.e., initial concentrations, emission rates, etc.) are still limited in the literature. This work reports FTOHs emissions from consumer products, mattress pad 1 (USA), mattress pad 2 (China), and stone cleaner/resealer 1 (USA). The FTOHs studied are: 4:2, 6:2, 8:2, and 10:2 FTOHs. The emission tests were conducted using a Markes Micro-Scale Chamber/Thermal Extractor™ (µ-CTE™) system that was set at 25 °C, 34% relative humidity, and approximately 100 mL/min of clean air. Air samples were collected from the micro chambers using thermal desorption tubes at different time interval during tests. 4:2 FTOH was not detected in any of the products. Emissions of 8:2 and 10:2 FTOHs were determined from the mattress pad products with a relatively slow decay rate. Emissions of 6:2, 8:2, and 10:2 FTOHs were measured from the liquid stone cleaner/sealer product. The emission data collected was fitted by the least-square method to the first order decay model using the SCIENTIST® program (Micromath Scientific Software) to obtain the initial emission factor (EF0) and the first order decay rate constant (k) based on ASTM D5116. The emission pattern and the emission parameters obtained from this work will provide information and support per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) inhalation exposure assessment by modelers.