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Experimental estimation of migration and transfer of organic substances from consumer articles to cotton wipes: Evaluation of underlying mechanisms

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 26, pages 104–112 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

The aim of this work was to identify the key mechanisms governing transport of organic chemical substances from consumer articles to cotton wipes. The results were used to establish a mechanistic model to improve assessment of dermal contact exposure. Four types of PVC flooring, 10 types of textiles and one type of inkjet printed paper were used to establish the mechanisms and model. Kinetic extraction studies in methanol demonstrated existence of matrix diffusion and indicated the presence of a substance surface layer on some articles. Consequently, the proposed substance transfer model considers mechanical transport from a surface film and matrix diffusion in an article with a known initial total substance concentration. The estimated chemical substance transfer values to cotton wipes were comparable to the literature data (relative transfer ∼2%), whereas relative transfer efficiencies from spiked substrates were high (∼50%). For consumer articles, high correlation (r2=0.92) was observed between predicted and measured transfer efficiencies, but concentrations were overpredicted by a factor of 10. Adjusting the relative transfer from about 50% used in the model to about 2.5% removed overprediction. Further studies are required to confirm the model for generic use.

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Acknowledgements

We thank CEFIC LRI for financial support of this study (grant: LRI B9-Characterizing the nature of dermal exposure from consumer products and articles), Harald Klimpke (Follmann & Co. GmbH & Co. KG, Germany) for producing DINCH plasticized PVC, Centexbel for manufacturing tailor made textiles and Rasmus Lundsgaard for fruitful discussion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Research Centre for the Working Environment, New Technologies, Lersø Parkalle 105, Copehagen Ø, Denmark

    Per Axel Clausen, Keld Alstrup Jensen, Vivi Kofoed-Sørensen & Brian Hansen

  2. Department Risk Analysis for Products in Development (RAPID), TNO, Zeist, AJ, The Netherlands

    Suzanne Spaan, Derk H Brouwer & Maaike le Feber

  3. TNO Triskelion, Zeist, AV, The Netherlands

    Hans Marquart & Roel Engel

  4. Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, Mol, Belgium

    Lieve Geerts & Katleen De Brouwere

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  1. Per Axel Clausen
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Correspondence to Per Axel Clausen.

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Clausen, P., Spaan, S., Brouwer, D. et al. Experimental estimation of migration and transfer of organic substances from consumer articles to cotton wipes: Evaluation of underlying mechanisms. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 26, 104–112 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2015.35

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2015.35

Keywords

  • dermal exposure
  • exposure modeling
  • volatile organic compounds
  • phthalates

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