Halogenated Volatile Organic Compounds from the Use of Chlorine-Bleach-Containing Household Products

Abstract

Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and many organic chemicals contained in household cleaning products may react to generate halogenated volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Halogenated VOC emissions from eight different chlorine bleach containing household products (pure and diluted) were investigated by headspace experiments. Chloroform and carbon tetrachloride were the leading compounds along with several halogenated compounds in the headspace of chlorine bleach products. One of the most surprising results was the presence of carbon tetrachloride (a probable human carcinogen and a powerful greenhouse gas that was banned for household use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) in very high concentrations (up to 101 mg m(-3)). By mixing surfactants or soap with NaOCl, it was shown that the formation of carbon tetrachloride and several other halogenated VOCs is possible. In addition to quantitatively determined halogenated VOCs (n = 15), several nitrogen-containing (n = 4), chlorinated (n = 10), oxygenated compounds (n = 22), and hydrocarbons (n = 14) were identified in the headspace of bleach products. Among these, 1,1-dichlorobutane and 2-chloro-2-nitropropane were the most abundant chlorinated VOCs, whereas trichloronitromethane and hexachloroethane were the most frequently detected ones. Indoor air halogenated VOC concentrations resulting from the use of four selected household products were also measured before, during, and 30 min after bathroom, kitchen, and floor cleaning applications. Chloroform (2.9-24.6 microg m(-3)) and carbon tetrachloride (0.25-459 microg m(-3)) concentrations significantly increased during the use of bleach containing products. During/ before concentration ratios ranged between 8 and 52 (25 +/- 14, average +/- SD) for chloroform and 1-1170 (146 +/- 367, average +/- SD) for carbon tetrachloride, respectively. These results indicated that the bleach use can be important in terms of inhalation exposure to carbon tetrachloride, chloroform and several other halogenated VOCs.

Immediate Reduction of Salmonella enterica Serotype Typhimurium Viability via Membrane Destabilization following Exposure to Multiple-Hurdle Treatments with Heated, Acidified Organic Acid Salt Solutions

“…Chlorine in chill tanks is one of the most universally employed interventions (46), but it has several disadvantages, including production of toxic by-products (40) and loss of efficacy in the presence of organic debris (46). In addition, consumer interest in organic food products is increasing and chlorine (above the level found in drinking water) is not approved for use in processing of organic foods (11).…”

Continued emissions of carbon tetrachloride from the United States nearly two decades after its phaseout for dispersive uses

“…A number of processes have been suggested as contributing to the ongoing global CCl 4 emissions, including fugitive emissions from feedstock uses and applications as process agents in chloralkali production plants, methane chlorination, petrochemical, rubber, flame retardant, and pesticide industries (7,11,36), and emissions from toxic wastes and treatment facilities (11,37), uncapped landfills (36,37), and chlorine-bleach-containing household products (when mixed with detergent) (38,39).…”

Australian carbon tetrachloride emissions in a global context

“…However, significantly enhanced CCl 4 concentrations (up to 30 ppb) have been observed in indoor-air environments associated with the domestic use of hypochlorite (OCl À ) bleach products. [47] The possible global magnitude of such a CCl 4 source has not been estimated, but this observation raises the question as to whether water chlorination by Cl 2 /OCl À could lead to CCl 4 emissions to the atmosphere.…”