Combined Assessment of Preschool Childrens’ Exposure to Substances in Household Products

Abstract

Understanding how indoor-air contaminants affect human health is of critical importance in our developed society. We assessed the combined exposure by inhalation of preschool children and children to household products. A total of 1175 families with 72 infants, 158 toddlers, 230 children, and 239 youths were surveyed to determine the combined respiratory exposure concentrations and amounts associated with 21 substances in eight household product groups. We determined the mean concentrations of these substances in each product, and derived reference toxicity values based on the information gathered in order to identify respiratory health risks. On average, cleaners were used at a rate of 1.0 × 103 g/month, while coating agents and other substances were used at 43 g/month. The combined inhalation exposure concentrations of methanol to infants and toddlers were 5.1 and 4.2 mg/m3 per month, respectively, with values of 2.1 and 1.7 mg/m3 for isopropanol, respectively. Risks to preschool children and children should be assessed on the basis of the toxicity values of combined exposed hazardous substances, as well as their combined concentrations and amounts. This exposure assessment approach can be used to establish improved guidelines for products that may pose inhalation hazards to preschool children and children.

Household Hazardous Materials Identification and Management Practices Among Residents of Irewole Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria

“…This is very important to keep children away from having direct and indirect contacts with the hazardous materials at homes. Infants and toddlers are unintentionally more exposed to these household products by inhalation, due to relatively longer periods of time spent indoors in homes than adults [14,17]. The study also revealed that open burning was the most reported and preferred method of disposal of household hazardous materials.…”

“…The indiscriminate use of household products and exposure to specific substances has been linked to the development of respiratory hypersensitivity or asthmatic symptoms in some susceptible individuals. Also, due to their comparatively longer time spent indoors in homes than adults, infants and toddlers are unintentionally exposed to these substances by inhalation [14].…”