Over the past several years, a number of concerns have been raised about health risks associated with chemical exposures from consumer products. The types of products that have received scrutiny include everything from common solvents and asbestos-containing products used commercially and in the home, to household products such as china and cookware and personal products such as jewelry and children’s toys. Questions about consumer product safety have been prompted by consumer protection regulations from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, regulation of specific chemicals under unique regulations such as California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxics Act ("Proposition 65"), product liability litigation, and the public’s interest in product safety.
Assessing the risks associated with the use of consumer products is particularly challenging, because the chemical composition of many products is often incompletely described or not reported. In addition, the use (or misuse) of these products by individuals (i.e., how, how much, how frequently, and under what conditions they are used) is also often either unknown or varies substantially among individuals. Consumer product risk assessments are also complicated when the objective is to characterize historical exposures for products that are no longer used or manufactured and are currently unavailable (e.g., retrospective risk assessments) or potential future exposures to new products not yet released to consumers (i.e., prospective risk assessments).
Exponent Health Scientists have a wealth of experience assisting clients in assessing the health risks posed by consumer products. Assessments of historical exposures are based on exposure simulation and reconstruction techniques pioneered by Exponent scientists. Exponent has conducted exposure reconstructions for commercial products such as brake linings, gaskets, parts-washing solvents, gasoline additives, and roofing compounds; home products such as dishes, keys, and electrical cables for home appliances; personal products such as hair coloring, shampoo, and nail polish; children’s products such as various toys and jewelry; and food products such as cheese and chocolate. Prospective assessments of new products are based on exposure modeling methods developed over the past decade. Exponent has also conducted assessments for new products such as marker pens, a pesticide dispenser, and stick-on decorations.
Additionally, Exponent has worked with various manufacturers, suppliers and vendors of consumer products to help develop their in-house compliance programs. Exponent’s China office has substantial experience in conducting third parties audits to evaluate health, safety and consumer product compliance for numerous companies working with vendors in China. Our China office staff work closely with our US staff to ensure that the most recent U.S. and European regulatory issues are considered when performing audits. We have also worked with several companies to develop compliance strategies, especially pertaining to lead in products. Additionally, we can perform screening evaluations on products (XRF) and have analytical capabilities through various local partner laboratories.
Publications for Consumer Products
Mowat F, Weidling R, Sheehan P. Simulation tests to assess occupational exposure to airborne asbestos from asphalt-based roofing products. Ann Occup Hyg 2007; 51(5):451–462.
Brorby G, Kalmes R, Goswami E, Mowat F, Sheehan P. Evaluating exposure to consumer products. Presented at Society for Risk Analysis Meeting, December 6, 2006.
Goswami E, Kalmes R. Exposure to formaldehyde during use of nail care products. Presented at American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition, Poster #269, May 2006.
Kalmes R, Brorby G. Lead…lead…everywhere? Evaluating potential exposure to heavy metals in consumer products. Presented at American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition, June 4, 2008.