EMISSIONS, EXPOSURE PATTERNS and HEALTH EFFECTS of

CONSUMER PRODUCTS in the EU

Guidelines: Need for Further Work Eduardo de Oliveira Fernandes

IDMEC/FEUP - University of Porto, Portugal

Gabriela Ventura

IDMEC/FEUP - University of Porto, Portugal

Brussels, 18 September 2013

Outline

Context

EnVIE: A new strategy on IAQ

Source control

Health-based ventilation

Limitations & barriers

Conclusions

Emissions, Exposure Patterns and Health Effects of Consumer Products in the EU

Context

Science based environmental health risk management

Science base

Policy objective

Dose/response

modelling

& health

monitoring

Source/activity

Exposure objective

Exposure

modelling

& monitoring

Policy loop

Accountability loop

Public/individual

health impact

expected

Policy selection &

implementation

Options evaluation

observed

Emissions, Exposure Patterns and Health Effects of Consumer Products in the EU

EnVIE model

Emissions, Exposure Patterns and Health Effects of Consumer Products in the EU

• Priority to source control

• Holistic and performance approach as a basis for a strategic road map for IAQ • Products and Materials IAQ related Assessment • Consumer Products • Building Energy (and IAQ) Performance Context • Sustainable Buildings!

• Exposure control - health-based ventilation

EnVIE strategic options and EFFECT (1)

Emissions, Exposure Patterns and Health Effects of Consumer Products in the EU

Source control – indoors

Consumer products

- Limits of VOCs concentration for IAQ (EU-INDEX project, REACH Directive, GPSD, WHO)

- Cleaner labeled consumer/construction products for all products/components used indoors (EPHECT project)

- European harmonised protocols for consumer product testing are needed! CEN as a major provider of European Standards and technical specifications, it appears as a possible field of intervention. EFFECT provided a first start to a process of harmonization.

- Risk assessment is a crucial part of the process and there is a need to pursue and widen the EPHECT efforts.

- Harmonization of procedures and/or criteria for labeling construction & consumer products & for measuring/monitoring/ auditing IAQ (PILOT INDOOR AIR MONIT project, EU-LCI Harmonization, SINPHONIE project. The list of products can be enriched with OFFICAIR and EFFECT outcomes.

EnVIE strategic options and EFFECT (2)

Emissions, Exposure Patterns and Health Effects of Consumer Products in the EU

Exposure

• Rethinking Ventilation!

Ventilation actually is a ultimate solution for lowering the concentration/exposure of indoor air pollutants but it is not thinkable that it will be acceptable to keep its level being defined as it has been so far (based on comfort criteria)

Ventilation purpose shall be primarily to fulfill health objectives (whenever known or possible to state) and not anymore subject to decide upon by energy criteria and/or by comfort/perception criteria

• Existing ventilation standards on comfort shall be urgently and consistently revised

EnVIE strategic options and EFFECT (3)

Emissions, Exposure Patterns and Health Effects of Consumer Products in the EU

Health-based ventilation

CAFE Dir. 96/62/EC

99/30/EC

2000/69/EC

2002/3/EC

1

2

3

4

1) It should be taken as granted. Out of EnVIE scope. 2) Building materials; paints; HVAC systems;... 3) Furniture; matresses; upholstery; candles; incense; air ‘freshners’;... 4) Cooking; fireplaces; cleaning products; air cleaners; varnishes; waxes;... 5) Radon 6) Energy Buildings Performance Directive 7) Electrical appliances 8) Construction Products Directive ( E. Req. #3) 9) Paints & varnishes 10) REACH 11) General Products Safety Directive 12) Burning appliances 13) Boilers

WHO Guidelines for IAQ: Dampness & mould

2001/95/EC11(GPS)

2006/121/EC10

90/396/EEC 12

92/42/EEC 13

2006/121/EC 10

Existing policies/legislation

Legend:

WHO Guidelines

EC Policies/Legislation

Member States Policies/Legislation

Green Paper on IAQ (!)

(REACH + CPD + EPBD) & IAQ associated responses

Harmonised (voluntary?) labelling schemes, IPP (?)

Consumer products labelling

Harmonised IAQ assessment, testing & monitoring systems & schemes

EnVIE proposed policies/strategies

90/143/Euratom 5

2002/91/EC (EPBD) 6

2002/95/EC 7

2005/32/EC 7

89/106/EEC (CPD) 8

2004/42/EC 9

2006/121/EC 10

Building codes

EPBD + IAQ (PT) Voluntary labelling schemes for materials (FI, DK, GE, FR,...)

WHO Guidelines

Outdoor air Building/Equip./Vent.

Consumer products Occupant behaviour & maintenance

EnVIE Policy Integrated Scheme

• Imposed concentration limits are specified in terms of the content and

never in terms of emissions.

• Difficulties associated to the very short emissions duration. EFFECT

solution needs to be further applied to all relevant products

• Lack of knowledge in what regards overall emissions and total exposures

• Missing toxicological data and uncertainties regarding health effects

• Uncertainties on risk assessment models. Model validation is needed

• Missing harmonization and standardization of the testing methods for

consumer products. Pre-normative work to be based on the EFFECT

approach.

EFFECT progress and current barriers

Emissions, Exposure Patterns and Health Effects of Consumer Products in the EU

Conclusions

• Relevant progresses regarding IAQ in the EU have been achieved on

knowledge, techniques, procedures and policies (tobacco ban!) for

the last 20 years thanks to JRC, DG Research, DG Sanco and CEN.

• Noticeable progresses on auditing, testing, labeling and

harmonization of procedures have already been reached.

• Yet, a holistic view to act at the building level starting from the

design stage bearing in mind the nearby environment context is

missing and seems by now hard to promote and acquire in a

coherent and consistent frame. A Green paper on IAQ has been

proposed without success.

Emissions, Exposure Patterns and Health Effects of Consumer Products in the EU

EMISSIONS, EXPOSURE PATTERNS and HEALTH EFFECTS of

CONSUMER PRODUCTS in the EU

Thank you!