Inhalation exposure to VOCs from household use of contaminated domestic water
Inhalation and dermal exposure by showering has been identified as a significant route of exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Elimination of the ingestion route of exposure by providing bottled water alone, therefore, may not be protective of human health; and the removal of VOCs from alternative water supplies may be required. This change may tremendously increase the cost of providing alternative water supplies to communities where private wells are the p source of water. Previously published laboratory and field studies for quantifying inhalation exposure during showering have been conducted in nearly closed chambers with air exchange in the shower area. Theoretical modeling studies for indoor air exposure have also assumed that air exchange rates during showering are negligible; however, air exchange rates on the order of 5-10 air changes per hour can easily be achieved by using commercially available ventilation fans. Calculated VOC concentrations in air at higher air exchange rates are lower, and the estimated inhalation dose in a ventilated shower is less than half of or lower than (depending on the volatilization rate) that in a relatively closed shower chamber. Calculated excess health risks from inhalation exposure to carbon tetrachloride in ventilated showers are on the order of 1 x 10{sup {minus}5} to 1 x 10{sup {minus}6} at water concentrations of carbon tetrachloride of about 30-200 {mu}g/L. Consequently, if ventilation of the shower area is considered as a mitigating factor, bottled water could provide a safe alternative supply where existing supplies are contaminated at levels much higher than the maximum contaminant level. The suggestion is made that a critical reevaluation of the data and models used to derive the water-quality standards for inhalation exposures should be considered.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 10141751
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/ER/CP-81908; CONF-940499-4; ON: DE94009807; CNN: No. 04 P2-92-USDA-CCC; TRN: 94:004675
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Federal environmental restoration and waste minimization conference and exhibition,New Orleans, LA (United States),25-29 Apr 1994; Other Information: PBD: [1994]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CARBON TETRACHLORIDE
INHALATION
SHOWERS
VENTILATION
WATER WELLS
WATER QUALITY
CONTAMINATION
VOLATILE MATTER
REMOVAL
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
SAFETY STANDARDS
560300
540120
540320
CHEMICALS METABOLISM AND TOXICOLOGY
CHEMICALS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT