2008-2013

2

SECTION I

Declaration by the scientific representative of the project coordinator

I, as scientific representative of the coordinator of this project and in line with the obligations stated in the Grant Agreement declare that:

The attached periodic report represents an accurate description of the work carried out in this project for this reporting period;

The project (tick as appropriate) :

has fully achieved its objectives and technical goals for the period;

□ has achieved most of its objectives and technical goals for the period with relatively minor deviations.

□ has failed to achieve critical objectives and/or is not at all on schedule.

The public website, if applicable,

is up to date

□ is not up to date

To my best knowledge, the financial statements that are being submitted as part of this report are in line with the actual work carried out and are consistent with the report on the resources used for the project and, if applicable, with the certificate of the financial statement.

All beneficiaries, in particular non-profit public bodies, have declared to have verified their legal status. Any changes have been reported under section wp1 Coordination and project management, in accordance with the requirements of the Grant Agreement.

Name of the scientific representative of the project Coordinator:

Roger Dijkmans

Date: 28/11/2013

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SECTION II

Checklist

Checklist final payment.xls

the checklist has been filled, answered and printed. A printout is annexed to this report. An electronic copy is enclosed.

4

SECTION III

Specification of the project

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

Acronym: EPHECT Starting date: 1

st of June 2010

Duration (in months): 36 + 4 months EC co-funding: € 749.759,83 Priority area: 3.3 PROMOTE HEALTH (HP-2009) Sub-action: 3.3.2 Promote healthier ways of life and reduce major diseases and injuries by tackling health determinants Action: 3.3.2.9 Healthy environments Main partner information and contact person:

Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek nv (VITO); Mr. Dirk Fransaer Ir. Managing Director

Associated partner information and contact person:

University of Western Macedonia research Committee (UOWM), Greece Mr. Ioannis Koliopoulos

Agence nationale chargée de la sécurité sanitaire de l’alimentation, de l’environnement et du travail (Anses), France Mr. Marc Mortureux

Technische Universität München (TUM), Germany Mr. Harun Parlar

The National Research Centre for the Working Environment (NRCWE), Denmark Mr. Otto Melchior Poulsen

Instituto De Engenharia Mechanica Environment (IDMEC) Portugal Mr. António Augusto Fernandes

Universita degli Study di Milano (UMil), Italy Mr. Enrico Decleva

IPSOS Belgium (IPSOS), Belgium Mr. Eric Dubois

List of collaborating partners:

International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance products (A.I.S.E.)

Federal Public Service Health, Food Safety and Environment

European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC)

The Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt, UBA)

Eurofins

Marketing and Consumer Research , TUM Business School , Technische Universität München

Joint Research Centre (JRC), Institute for Health and Consumer Protection

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FOREWORD This EPHECT final report provides an overview of the objectives and strategy that was followed in this project. It lists the published deliverables and outcome documents that report the methods and means and achievement of milestones and (specific) objectives. All annex documents are referred to using the letters ‘WP’, followed by the work package number and a list number.

- Why the project is important EPHECT focussed its efforts, with respect to the general call requirements, on European use and use patterns of relevant consumer products (cleaning agents, personal care products and air fresheners). Although these products are ubiquitous in dwellings, and there is evidence of health risks associated to their use, there is a considerable scientific uncertainty on the underlying mechanisms compared to more common primary indoor air pollutants (e.g. NO2, CO and primary particulate matter). Considering the current knowledge gaps (e.g. Carslaw et al,2006), EPHECT contributes to a better understanding of multiple exposures to primary and secondary air pollutants, emitted during typical household uses of relevant consumer products. Special attention is paid to the exposure of vulnerable populations.

- What the key findings are The study started with a literature review: making an inventory of the published and accessible emission and exposure data available for any consumer product. This information became the starting point for the development of BUMAC, the database on emissions and exposures related to consumer products. The EPHECT project also resulted in the development of an emission testing umbrella protocol for the studied categories of consumer products. This is a considerable step forward in the standardisation of emission testing of consumer products, and stresses the importance of continued research in this domain. Further, it emphasizes the common paradox of testing consumer products in artificial clean conditions rather than realistic conditions with oxidants present, because new compounds of concern may emerge. Important results were also obtained for the emission of hazardous compounds from consumer products and the respiratory health risks related to exposures resulting from single product uses and multiple source exposures. Although there is still much work to be done, the results of this project can already serve to formulate recommendations to policy makers: (1) There is a need for well-defined, harmonised and simplified test protocols with appropriate procedures and development of health guidelines. (2) Decreasing the health risk should not be in the hands of the consumer but in the hands of the manufacturers and policy makers. ‘Source control’ should be emphasised above ‘exposure control’

- who might benefit from the outputs/outcomes

The -first- target group of EPHECT has a professional interest in EPHECT and thus includes stakeholders such as consumer product manufacturers and traders, coordinating associations, consumer organisations, policy makers and researchers. They have knowledge on, and a professional interest in consumer product composition and emissions, exposures related to use, associated health risks and possible reduction strategies. Aiming at valid and usable results, they were consulted and involved in a consistent way throughout the project’s progress. Therefore, relevant stakeholders agreed on a role as collaborating partners in EPHECT. At well-defined moments during the project’s progress they were consulted and as members of the Project Evaluation Committee (PEC), most have been charged with the evaluation of deliverables and milestones (Industrial partners are excluded from PEC). In the EPHECT Stakeholder Meeting (15

th of May 2013), a larger group of stakeholders was consulted on EPHECT and (research and

policy) needs in this field. On the EPHECT Final Event (18th

of September 2013), the outcomes of EPHECT were presented to 66 relevant stakeholders, a survey on their points of view documents their interest and point of view towards EPHECT and the needs after EPHECT (REF).

The -second- target group has a personal interest in EPHECT. These include citizens, using consumer products in households and exposing themselves and other occupants to product emissions. They are consulted during the project’s progress, since a statistically representative part of the European citizens is involved in the market study on uses and use patterns. This second subgroup’s major interest focuses on the results of EPHECT, namely guidelines and exposure reduction policies. By means of a project leaflet, a website and newsletters, WP2 puts special attention on the dissemination of results to the general public and all EU Member States (MS). In WP8, the section ‘Risk management guidance for consumers’ was targeted to consumer product users.

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- what the target group (s) should do differently as a result

An open communication between stakeholders, professionals involved in EPHECT is crucial for future work. Collaboration between stakeholders, in which information and experience is exchanged, will also be beneficial for future harmonisation and standardisation of consumer product testing and health risk assessment. The BUMAC database is a valuable starting point to initiate a shared information database. In EPHECT both intended and non intended users were identified. A defensive behaviour, respecting guidelines on frequency and duration of use, on quantity of use, and combined product uses are valuable aspects to control exposures and risks. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Mr. Derrick Crump, Cranfield University UK (subcontractor) Mr. Reinhard Oppl, Eurofins (Collaborative partner) Mr. Stylianos Kephalopoulos and Mrs. Josefa Barerro-Moreno, Joint Research Centre (Collaborative partner) Mrs. Christine Däumling, The Federal Environment Agency UBA Germany (Collaborative partner) Mr. Fabrice Thielen and Mr. Robert Martens, Federal Public Service Health, Food Safety and Environment (Collaborative partner) Mrs. Loredana Guinea and Mr. Manfred Giersig, European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) (Collaborative partner) Mrs. Larissa Dresher and Jutta Roosen, Marketing and Consumer Research, TUM Business School (Collaborative partner) Mrs. Elodie Cazelle, Mr. Gerard Stijntjes and Mr. Paul Lloyd, International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance products (A.I.S.E.) (Collaborative partner) Mrs. Catherine Stihler EP for organising the EPHECT Final Event at the European Parliament Mr. Fabrice Thielen for organising the EPHECT Stakeholder meeting at the Federal Public Service Health, Food Safety and Environment, Belgium Prof. Mike Ashmore Mrs. Els Kenis (VITO) for all administrative help

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List of tables

Table 1 Specific objectives and the level of achievement ..................................................... 12

Table 2 Deliverables and the month of delivery ............................................................... 15

List of Abbreviations CP Collaborative partner AP Associated partner PSG Project steering group meeting AG Advisory group WP Work package PEC Project Evaluation Committee MS

Member States

Keywords (using Mesh terms)

1. Risk assessment

2. Risk management

3. Inhalation exposure

4. Toxicity / adverse effects

5. Air pollutants

6. Household products

7. Hazardous substances

8. Standards

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SECTION IV

EPHECT Final publishable executive summary

The EPHECT project (Emissions, exposure patterns and health effects of consumer products in the EU) focuses on exposures resulting from the household use of personal care products, air fresheners, and cleaning agents. More specifically, products causing an exposure that is related to the use scenarios, and products being potential sources of health relevant air pollutants in households, were selected for a more thorough analysis in this project. Emphasis was put on EPHECT key and emerging indoor air pollutants that were selected with respect to international concerted actions or organisations (WHO, Index, etc.) and existing guidelines or limit values. The EPHECT key pollutants include: CO, NO2, ammonia, benzene, toluene, xylenes, styrene, phthalates, lead, O3, PAHs, naphthalene, PCBs, PCDDs, chloroamines, hypochlorite, H2O2, formaldehyde, acrolein, glutaraldehyde, acetaldehyde, siloxanes, fluorinated, quaternary ammonium chlorides -Ozone-consuming compounds: limonene, α-pinene, geraniol, a-terpineol, linalool -Specific airway allergens: isocyanates, acid anhydrides, radical production – particles: fine and ultrafine PM < 0.1, particle number, size fraction area, chemical characterisation, metals, carbon (EC/OC), and oxidized PAHs. This list was applied to determine the compounds that were feasible to assess in product emission testing.

The study was initiated by a literature review, inventorying published and accessible emission and exposure data of any consumer product. This information was the starting point for the development of BUMAC, the database on emissions and exposures related to consumer products. Using pre-established verification criteria, 15 relevant product classes of personal care products, air fresheners, and cleaning agents were identified for further research in EPHECT. These include: all purpose cleaners, kitchen cleaning agents, floor cleaning agents, glass and window cleaners, bathroom cleaning agents, furniture polish, floor polish, coating products, combustible air fresheners, air freshener sprays, passive air fresheners, electric units, hair styling sprays, deodorant sprays and perfumes.

In order to develop a suitable product emission test protocol as well as a representative exposure assessment, a market study on product uses, involving 4335 respondents from 10 different EU member states, was organized. Consumption information and use scenarios in North, South, East and West Europe were inventoried, which lead to the identification of relevant characteristics and parameters for emission testing and exposure assessment. Most used brands, regional use scenario differences as well as typical use habits such as respecting user guidelines, excessive uses of a product, and room ventilation during or after the product application, were assessed.

The EPHECT umbrella for consumer product testing was developed in order to establish an EPHECT emission test scenario, characterised by a maximum agreement with the existing standard for building materials, as well as a maximum similarity between the protocols for the different studied product classes. According to the EPHECT umbrella, the product test scenario is determined by (1) the product’s aggregation state (liquid, gel, solid), and (2) product package, which is on its turn related to the use scenario (to be sprayed, to be volatilized, to be applied with a cloth, etc.). Experiments were performed by 4 laboratories, each utilising an emission test chamber of different dimensions. A suitable QA/QC strategy was designed, involving any analysis performed by the laboratories. For the majority of the product classes, two products (including the EU most used product brand) were subjected to product emission testing. In total 25 different products have been tested. Additionally, for one personal care product, one air freshener and one cleaning agent, the EPHECT test scenario was applied on the same product in all 4 laboratories, by a different operator, in emission test chambers of different dimensions. The results of this inter-laboratory study indicated that the most straight forward test scenario (e.g. one spray on a cotton cloth), lead to the most reproducible normalized specific emission rates. Other use scenarios such as applying the product and spreading it over a surface, using a cloth, indicated more complex interrelations between the laboratories. The experiments also emphasized the importance of a suitable loading factor. For all tested products, normalized specific emission rates of (respiratory health related) EPHECT priority compounds were calculated based on test chamber concentrations

A more thorough screening of all emitted VOCs (volatile organic compounds) as well as the assessment of the emitted TVOC levels (total volatile organic compounds C6-C16, according to ISO 16000-6) underlined the importance of further research on compounds that have not been prioritised in EPHECT. It was noticed that the majority of the tested continuous emission sources (excluding candles) lead to ideal room concentrations that are situated in the recommended Evaluation Standard Level 2 (0.3 -1 mg/m³) of

9

the German IRK/AOLG Ad-hoc Working Group. Level 2 is described as ‘No relevant objections, provided that any guide values for individual substances or groups of substances are not exceeded’. TVOC levels of discontinuous sources may temporarily be elevated as well; however, more detailed indoor modelling is needed to assess the impact on the indoor air.

The formation of secondary reaction products in presence of ozone was studied for a kitchen cleaning agent, an electrical as well as a passive air freshener. The selection of these product classes was based upon the qualitative identification of compounds that are known to easily undergo ozone-initiated reactions, i.e. terpenes, like limonene, within the time-frame of typical indoor exchange rates. Quantified secondary reaction products (in excess of ozone) include formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, but also poly-oxygenates

like IPOH (3-isopropenyl-6-oxo-heptanal), 6-MHO (6-methyl-5-heptene-2-one), 4-AMCH (4-acetyl-1-methylcyclohexene ) and 4-OPA (4-oxo-pentanal), known to be typical key oxidation products of limonene (Atkinson and Arey, 2003; Calogirou et al., 1999). A tentative health risk assessment on respiratory effects of the quantified secondary reaction products was based on recent human reference values (Wolkoff et al., 2013) and No-Observed-Adverse-Effect-Level (NOAEL) values for formaldehyde and acrolein (WP7). It showed that for the certain terpene containing products, concern should be raised to both acute effects like sensory irritation in eyes and upper airways, but also to airflow limitation in the conducting airways. Acrolein reached close to 100% of its proposed NOAEL value for long-term effects. Further research on reaction mechanisms, validations in real-life, and exposures and risk assessment is therefore justified.

The reconsideration of the EPHECT priority compounds in the light of available literature as well as their occurrence in the experimental product testing outcomes, lead to the identification of acrolein, formaldehyde, naphthalene, d-limonene, and α-pinene as target pollutants for respiratory health risk assessment. Hazard identification and dose-response relationship were assessed by evaluating human and animal toxicological data concerning effects of short and long-term inhalation exposure. The critical effect, NOAEL and Lowest-Observed-Adverse-Effect-Level (LOAEL) were identified for each priority compound and the limits of exposure in the framework of EPHECT were calculated. For the purposes of health risk assessment, sensory irritation and respiratory end-points were considered, both for acute exposures of 30 min, , as well as for long-term exposures of 24 h.

Indoor air modelling was performed using specific emission rates derived from laboratory experiments, and the outcomes of the EPHECT market study. Exposure assessment was performed using the most representative worst-case specific emission rate for every EPHECT target compound mentioned above, emitted during household use of the selected consumer product classes, plus for the compound benzene. A methodology was developed to construct scenarios for the use of consumer products by two population groups (housewives and retired people) in the 4 geographical areas of Europe (North, West, South, East), based on the re-analysis of the market study data (i.e. 8 population groups). Subsequently, the most representative worst-case scenario regarding the product use in home micro-environments was identified, respecting the use preferences of the population group in each geographical area. Representative ventilation rates for every geographical region, used for indoor air modelling, were derived from literature. To be proactive, the situation at a theoretical ‘zero’ ventilation rate (of 0.1 ACH) was calculated as well. Indoor air modelling was performed on 3 levels of complexity: Level 1: one product, one compound across home microenvironments (CONC-CPM, comparison with BAMA model); Level 2: many products, one compound, exposure in one microenvironment (CONC-CPM model) and Level 3: many products, all compounds (that can be modelled) in one dwelling, including thus several microenvironments (IAQ chemical model with lumped chemical scheme). Because of its complexity and the indoor environmental parameters needed for the latter, this level could only be accomplished for U.K.

For risk characterisation, the exposure assessment was related/compared to the health-based limits of exposure. These consist of the WHO guideline values (for formaldehyde and naphthalene), and other health-based limits of exposure determined in EPHECT (for acrolein, d-limonene and α-pinene). The indoor air concentrations in each microenvironment of a compound from single product use were then expressed as a percentage of the health-based limit of exposure, however, without considering the possibility of multiple sources.

The results for the 30-minutes exposures as well as for the 24-h exposures showed that in all 25 tested

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products, none of the 5 target pollutants of health risk assessment was exceeding their corresponding limit of exposure. The highest contributions to the 30-minute exposures were found for formaldehyde (82% of its limit of exposure) emitted from floor cleaning agent; for acrolein (4% of its limit of exposure) emitted from a candle; for d-limonene (2% of its limit of exposure) emitted from a kitchen cleaning agent, and for α-pinene (0.04% of its limit of exposure) emitted from floor cleaning agent. For 24-hours exposures, naphthalene emitted by furniture polish emitted about 15% of its limit of exposure, formaldehyde emitted by floor cleaning agent reached about 8% of its limit of exposure, acrolein emitted from a candle reached 2% of its limit of exposure, d-limonene emitted from a kitchen cleaning agent also 2% of its limit of exposure and α-pinene emitted from a passive air freshener reached 0.2% of its limit of exposure. In the set of EPHECT consumer products, benzene was found to only be emitted from candles. Data analysis on aggregated exposures (several products, exposure to one compound in one or several micro-environments) showed that also exposures resulting from the use of different products were below the limits of exposure both for long- as well as for short-term exposures, although considerable contributions to short-term exposures may be obtained at low ventilation conditions. It should be noted that exposure modelling and health risk assessment in EPHECT is focussed on the 5 target compounds; it does not take into account other pollutants, TVOC or secondary reaction products. It is however the first study in its kind to provide exposure estimates and health risk assessment for 8 population groups across Europe (respecting regional differences in uses and use scenarios as well as ventilation conditions of each region and population group), using 15 different consumer product classes in households.

Final recommendations, resulting from EPHECT have been focussed to risk management for consumer products, recommendations for policy makers, and for users. Risk management for consumer products emphasizes the importance of the definition of a consumer, as distinctions should be made between intended and non-intended users, and between vulnerable and less vulnerable users. The use and use scenario of a product, such as frequency, duration, combinations with other products and building materials, ventilation and expected use, will also affect the total exposure, thus the risk of the consumer. In fact, the EC project ENVIE (Oliveira Fernandes et al., 2008) “European co-ordination action on Indoor Air Quality and Health Effects” (2004-2008), presented a main conclusion with relevance in this context: the prioritization of the two main strategies for risk reduction, i.e. “source control” where the nature or strength of the sources, or even their existence indoors is removed, replaced or moderated, and “exposure control”, essentially through ventilation. In the ENVIE approach, the need to promote the first strategy was stressed, following the precautionary principle, according to which prevention is better than restitution, mitigation and restoration. This option is however in the hands of the manufacturers and policy makers that can force to decrease the contaminants present in the consumer products. Another way considered to control exposure was the restriction of the time spent in a particular contaminated space and, as the ultimate solution, the dilution with increased ventilation, which can be implemented by the consumer.

In the review of policies, it was verified that most of existing EU policies on chemicals and consumer products (e.g. REACH, General Product Safety Directive, CLP/GHS, Biocidal Products Directive, Toys Safety Directive, Cosmetics Directive, etc.) specify safety conditions and limits mostly based on chemical content and not on emissions patterns. The EPHECT’s guidance for emission testing umbrella protocol for various categories of consumer products as well as the results obtained for emission should be seen as a pre-normative work, which will provide advice and recommendations on future standardisation of emission testing of consumer products along with gaps identified and needs for further research. At this stage, it is not possible to propose recommendations on limits of contaminants based on the results of the Project. But it is however possible to propose recommendations on the strategies used to develop new guidelines. In the last year of the project an EPHECT Stakeholder Meeting took place in Brussels, on May 15

th, in

order to present the results of the project to stakeholders, and to hear their opinions in what regards actions are to be taken. After a short discussion, a set of main conclusions could be retained. It was clear that all participants identified the need of well defined procedures and a clear message from policies. In general, some words were common for all represented stakeholders: Harmonization and Simplification.

Regulation is the most powerful tool to force people to create a good indoor air quality (Bluyssen, 2010). For Consumer Products, at this stage there is still research work required in order to provide further foundations for preparing objective testing, development of relevant health-based guidelines, and regulation. EPHECT created and demonstrated the building blocks for a health related consumer product evaluation. However, Policy Makers should provide the actors with the instruments necessary to apply and increase this knowledge. It is essential to further support research and technical work, as CEN in the areas of Methods of Testing, and Risk Assessment.

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SECTION V Technical aspects of the project

Background and project scope Large-scale European surveys have reported a general increase of the prevalence of allergies, asthma and other respiratory diseases (European Community Respiratory Health Survey, Central European Study of Air Pollution and Respiratory Health, International Study on Asthma and Allergies in Childhood). Among other factors, this trend was related to adverse health effects of air pollution. Short and long-term exposures to indoor air pollution contribute to this overall exposure to air pollution. Product emissions determine to a considerable extent the indoor air quality in dwellings. Certain consumer products, such as personal care products, cleaning agents and air fresheners, are known to emit hazardous and other health relevant air pollutants. In general one can state that emission rates, typical household uses, habits and use patterns of a product, determine both user’s and occupant’s exposure, and thus the health effect. However, a review revealed that the current knowledge in this multidisciplinary field is rather scattered: some studies focus on only one toxic ingredient in more products, others on one product and its ingredients, and others neglect use patterns. Therefore there is a high need for more knowledge, data and data compilation on European household use (patterns) of consumer products, on product emissions and secondary reactions and, most important, on the interplay between these factors, to obtain an accurate health risk assessment.

Selected references:-Product emissions- Coleman BK, et al. Atmos Environ 42(2008)Kwon KD, et al. J Hazar Mater 148(2007); Nazaroff WW et al. Atmos Environ 38(2004); Weschler CJ. Atmos Environ 43(2009); Wolkoff P, et al. Sci Total Environ 215(1998)-Health effect adults- Wolkoff P, et al. Toxicol Lett 181:3(2008); Zock JP, et al. Am J Resp Crit Care 176(2007)-Health effect children- Henderson J, et al. Eur Respir J 31:3(2008); Scherriff A et al. Thorax 60(2006)

General objective of the project This project promotes European citizen’s health, by proposing actions to control exposure to hazardous and other health relevant household consumer product emissions. The exposure reduction strategies will contribute to a decrease of the risk for asthma, allergies and other respiratory diseases due to household exposures. Despite hygienic or aesthetic benefits, products such as cleaning agents, air fresheners and personal care products may cause health effects by the inhalation of toxic volatile organics (e.g. ethylene-based glycol ethers), particles, non-volatile residues and secondary pollutants.

EPHECT focuses its efforts, with respect to the general call requirements, on European use and use patterns of relevant consumer products. These products are ubiquitous in dwellings, there is evidence of health risks associated to their use, and there is a considerable scientific uncertainty on the underlying mechanisms compared to the knowledge on common primary indoor air pollutants (e.g. NO2, CO and primary particulate matter). Considering the current knowledge gaps (e.g. Carslaw et al,2006), EPHECT contributes to a better understanding of multiple exposures to primary and secondary air pollutants, emitted during typical household uses of relevant consumer products. Special attention is paid to the exposure of vulnerable populations. A BUMAC (consumer products) database, exposure reduction guidelines, policy options and guidance in product emission testing result from EPHECT.

Specific objective(s) of the project

Table 1 Specific objectives and the level of achievement

Title and Description Link to the WPs Link to the deliverables Level of achievement as measured in WP3

1 To create a database on the state-of-the-art of emissions and health end points from consumer products:

To create the fundaments for a European database, named BUMAC (Consumer products), on the state-of-the-art of consumer product emissions and health end points. To identify health and emission relevant consumer product classes for further research. WP4 D4

Process indicator was the selection of consumer products with inclusion of their emission data, relevant to the objective of EPHECT. A process indicator in this respect was the creation of database for inclusion of such data. An evaluation indicator was D4.2, a literature review (including a strategy, D4.1) and the set up of the BUMAC database, D4.4 (including a manual, D4.3). The evaluation was performed throughout the project with the help of Christine Däumling from UBA, Germany. The level of achievement is 100%

2 To assess the indoor use and use patterns of consumer products in EU Member States

To assess the European consumption and use habits of 15 selected consumer product classes. To translate this information to make it applicable as input for simulated real life emission testing, exposure and risk assessment.

WP5 D5

The level of achievement is 100%. The quantitative indicators are: the Report on the indoor use and use patterns of consumer products (D5.2, reviewed by Sandrine Philip, ANSES), D5.1 EPHECT survey protocol (reviewed by Larissa Drescher and Jutta Roosen, TUM Business School), and Review of literature methods (D5.3, reviewed by Peder Wolkoff, NRCWE ), performed and delivered by WP5 Lead. The outcome indicators is the knowledge of the use and habits of consumer products in Europe.

3 To quantify product emissions by laboratory testing

To study research gaps beyond the state-of-the-art for the completion of BUMAC with missing emission rates, by quantifying emissions of selected consumer products in laboratory experiments, simulating realistic household use conditions.

WP6 D6 D7

Process indicator is the assessment of key pollutant by product testing. Deliverable D6.2 (Quantification of product emissions) was evaluated by Derrick Crump (Review document is requested). The level of achievement can be described as 100%.

Process indicators were emission data of 25 products included in the database (D6.1, Zip folder), which is available for Associated Partners, and will be downloadable from the

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BUMAC database. Level of achievement is 100%

Process indicators were experimental methods on testing and outcomes of QA/QC. Evaluation indicator is the D6.3 Report, which was evaluated by Reinhard Oppl. Level of achievement is 100%.

Process indicators were an intercomparison of laboratory testing with tools for harmonisation of future emission testing. Evaluation indicator is the D6.4 deliverable (Guidance on product emission testing). Level of achievement can be described 100%. However, for the qualitative evaluation, the review is currently under progress by Derrick Crump and submitted for peer-reviewed publication.

Process indicators were the determination of transformation reactions for three selected products. The outcome indicator for evaluation is a report (D7, quantification of product emissions from transformation reactions…). The level of achievement can be described 100%, however, for qualitative evaluation; the review is currently in progress by Derrick Crump.

4 To perform exposure and health risk assessment, on the use of consumer products

To assess the health risk, based on exposure assessment to key and emerging indoor air pollutants from selected consumer product classes.

WP7 D8 D9

The main process indicator was the determination of the health risk related to the use of consumer products. The first evaluation indicator was a review on the ventilation in European dwellings by C. Dimitroulopoulou (2012), which was published and evaluated positively by reviewers of the scientific Journal Building and Environment. Tow further reports were subject to evaluation. One is the report on the health risk associated with emissions from household use of selected consumer products (D8.2). This deliverable is currently under review by the JRC, Stylianos Kephalopoulos and was due in September 2013. One is the report on existing European health risk reduction options associated consumer product emissions (D9).

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This has been reviewed by Eduardo Oliveira in December 2012. The level of achievement can be described 100%, however, a qualitative opinion for D8 is still due.

5 To formulate guidance for risk management and policy options

To formulate an efficient risk management guidance for users of consumer products and to provide recommendations for policy-makers in order to obtain a healthier indoor environment.

WP8 D10

The process indicator was a review of existing policies for consumer products in order to determine their limitations. The process indicator in turn was to formulate guidance for risk management and policy options.

The indicator for evaluation was the overview of current product policies in selected countries worldwide, which was subjected to review by JRC, Stylianos Kephalopoulos. The level of achievement for this deliverable can be described 100%.

Limitations of existing policies could be revealed. Recommendations on limits based on findings of this project was however not possible. However, new policies could be influenced based on findings of this project. A stakeholder meeting concluded further a harmonization and simplification of policies.

Level of achievement can be described as 100%.

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Overview of the work packages and deliverables:

Table 2 Deliverables and the month of delivery

WP WP Title Deliverables Description Confiden-tiality

Expected month of delivery

Actual delivery month

Justification for the delay (if applicable)

1 Coordination of the project D1 Project Protocol, Technical, financial interim reports and documents of meetings

Project protocol (M1), technical and financial interim reports according to EC requirements in M 12, M24 and M36. Documents and minutes of PSG and AG meetings in M1, M6, M14, M21, M30 and M 36

Public 36 39.5 Project extension

2 Dissemination of the project D2 Implementation of a website, brochure, news updates, a workshop, colloquium and scientific publications

Brochure and website that contains information on the project and is updated with results and news. Scientific publications(at least 1 per WP with innovative results-max5),project’s workshop and its proceedings, and colloquium, report to target groups

Public 36 39.5 Project extension

3 Evaluation of the project D3 Project evaluation documents

Summarizing evaluation reports on the processes and outcomes in different work packages as part of the interim reports (M12, M24 and M36)

Scientific Community only

36 39.5 Project extension

4 Database on the state-of-the-art of emissions and health end points from consumer products

D4 Selection of emitting and health relevant products, based on a database on indoor emissions from consumer products

European database on indoor air key and emerging pollutant emissions from consumer products, incl. emission rates, health end points and multiple exposures, that allow the selection of 15 emitting and health relevant product classes for further research

Public 6 39.5 Project extension

5 Indoor use and use pattern of consumer products in EU Member States

D5 Report on the use, use pattern and habits at EU level for the selected consumer product classes

A report on figures and facts on use and use pattern of the product classes considered. The information is representative for all EU MS and allows the set up of test protocols for simulating real-life emission and exposure scenario’s.

Public 21 21

16

6 Quantification of product emissions by laboratory testing

D6 Study of research gaps on chemical and particulate emissions, associated to the household use of consumer products D7 Full-scale exposure data and transformation reactions (reactive chemistry for 3 selected products)

Report on chemicals, volatiles, non-volatiles, and ultra-fine particles emitted from selected consumer product classes, applying climate chamber experiments, simulating realistic use conditions; update of research gaps in BUMAC. Report on simulated full-scale exposure studies (volatile and particle characterization) and examples of reactive chemistry for 3 selected consumer products; update of BUMAC and guidance for emission testing

Public Public

21

30

21-39

39

Project extension due to additional or repeat of experiments Project extension due to additional or repeat of experiments

7 Exposure and health risk assessment

D8 Report on the health risk associated with emissions from household use of selected consumer products D9 Overview on existing European risk reduction options

Risk assessment report on exposure to key and emerging indoor air pollutants, due to household use of products from the selected consumer product classes This document lists existing European policy options which aim at a risk reduction, associated with consumer product emissions.

Public Public

30

30

39.5

35

Fine-tuning of D6 data (verification, repetition, intercomparison experiment) needed before exposure assessment could initiate Draft document finalised on month 30. Feedback from reviewer initiated in month 35.

8 Risk management guidance and policy options

D10 Report on existing policies, risk management guidance and recommendations for policies

Relevant existing product policy initiatives and potential exposure reduction strategies are summarized. After review with stakeholders, recommendations for policies and risk management guidance for users are proposed.

Public 36 38 Update with a summary of the audience survey at the EPHECT Final Event

Main activities carried out including methods and means. Work package 1: The first work package was initiated by the formulation of the Project Protocol [WP1.30]. This document contains (1) a detailed description of the work packages and the tasks in each work package, (2) a risk analysis, (3) collaborating partners (including a task description) (4) a mapping of actors - stakeholders (that was continuously updated throughout the project, (5) a dissemination plan. Additionally an overview of the timing of deliverables and milestones for all work packages [WP1.31a and WP1.31b], as well as PSG and AG meetings, was used as a guideline document throughout the project. In total 17 meetings, of which 5 project steering group meetings, one final meeting and 11 informal meetings (net meetings, add-on meetings to meetings or conferences or informal meetings) were organised in order to maintain a good communication and discussion between the project coordinator, the associated partners and collaborating partners. Draft documents were exchanges within associated partners, using a password protected part of the project website (www.ephect.eu). After review by external reviewers, each document produced in EPHECT was shared with collaborating partners for review. Only at the end of the contract, reports were uploaded on an open access page on the project website.

Work Package 2: The dissemination work package was initiated by the formulation of a Project Dissemination plan, as part of the Project Protocol [WP1.30]. The newsletters were send to stakeholders and the project website was regularly updated with downloadable documents (summarizing ppt presentations [WP2.15-WP2.20], newsletters, outcomes,... ). EPHECT was presented 24 times at 12 events throughout the project’s duration, and 7 manuscripts are accepted, or submitted at the reporting date of this Final Report [WP2.11].

Dissemination was increased by organising two EPHECT events: (1) the EPHECT stakeholder meeting (meeting programme) [WP2.9]), was organised in order to consult stakeholders and include direct feedback on the EPHECT outcomes to date of the 15

th of May 2013 in order to fine-tune and align with suggestions from relevant stakeholders;

34 stakeholders have participated in this event (2) the EPHECT final event was organised at the European Parliament on the 18

th of September 2013 (meeting programme) [WP2.11], in order to present the final outcomes of EPHECT and

to consult stakeholders on the way forward after EPHECT; 67 stakeholders have participated in this meeting.

Work Package 3: TUM carried out the evaluation of the EPHECT project by at first outlining an evaluation plan according to the information given by the proposal and based on first discussions held at the kick-off meeting (M1). The next step was to organise a process of quantitative and qualitative evaluation, for which documents were developed and distributed to the WP leaders. The form for the quantitative evaluation included tables for reporting the work that has been carried out within the WP by each participant, and asked for reporting the level of achievement for each deliverable and milestone normally within a six month period and respectively between the period of project steering meetings. For the qualitative evaluation, the PEC members were engaged. Experts closely related to the research fields of EPHECT were contacted and asked for participation. These were Fabrice Thielen (SPF Santé Publique, Belgium), Prof. Jutta Roosen and Dr. Larissa Drescher (TUM Business school), and Christine Däumling (UBA, Berlin). Besides of PEC members, there were also other acknowledged scientists asked to participate as reviewers. These were Dr. Derrick Crump (Cranfield University), and Reinhard Oppl (Eurofins). For the independent review process also main partners were involved. For the qualitative evaluation, a time table was prepared to record which deliverable is being reviewed by whom and when. The qualitative review was recorded on forms in which both, the WP leader and the reviewer had the opportunity to follow a rebuttal if needed. TUM followed this process by E-Mail and personal communication with the responsibles of both sides, discussing the strategy of review and the rebuttal. The quantitative and qualitative evaluation reports were collected and are made available in the Annex [WP 3.2]. Project evaluation meetings with PEC members were organised during the meeting in Kos and Porto. Evaluators took further part in project steering meetings held in Milan (Derrick Crump), and Brussels (Christine Däumling). (M2)

Work package 4 (Specific Objective 1): The BUMAC database [WP 4.1] was set-up using the Oracle Application Express, which is a rapid web application development tool for the Oracle database. The database is designed as a compilation of data on the current state-of-the-art on consumer product compositions and emissions, on test chamber experimental results, exposures, risks and health end points. To assure qualitative data, only data outcomes from procedures derived from standardized emission test protocols, will be included. The key indoor air pollutants and emerging pollutants to be studied constitute of (1) compounds prioritised by relevant international concerted actions or international organisations, such as INDEX, BUMA and WHO and (2) compounds reported in open literature as (potential) hazardous and occurring in this type of consumer products. They include gaseous and particulate matter emissions, secondary reactions and degradations of coated surfaces. The database is based on an extensive literature review, reported in deliverable D 4.2 ‘Literature review on product composition, emitted compounds, and emission rates and health end points from consumer products’ [WP 4.2] and allowed a clear view on current research gaps. Applying 6 pre-defined verification criteria (the product should -1-be used in households, -2-cause an exposure related to the use, -3-emit key or emerging pollutants, -4-have a considerable indicative household use frequency, -5-mainly cause inhalation exposure, and -6-cause a health end point) on the listed products in BUMAC 15 relevant consumer product classes are selected for further research. Applied methods and means for the literature search in WP4 are reported in the

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strategy document ‘D 4.3 Strategy for data collection of product emissions’ [WP 4.3].

Work Package 5 (Specific Objective 2): The market survey protocol and an implementation strategy for the organisation of the market study on EU uses and use patterns of consumer products, is described in the document ‘D 5.1 Indoor use and use pattern of consumer products in EU Member States: Survey Protocol [WP 5.1]. This survey was designed in order to collect representative data on European household uses, use patterns and habits (product types, used quantities, frequency of use, trademarks, …) for the 15 EPHECT product classes, by carrying out an online survey in 10 EU countries. A total of 4335 respondents were interviewed across the 10 countries (±300 interviews per country). The sampling design and data collection process took place identically in each country, which allowed consistent samples for a multi-country project like EPHECT. In the course of the field progress, intermediary field reports were reported on a regular frequency to allow a follow-up the evolution of the field. Representative European geographical regions were identified (Western Europe: France, Germany, UK; Northern Europe: Denmark, Sweden; Southern Europe: Italy, Spain; Eastern Europe: Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland). The outcomes of the survey are reported in D5.2 Survey on indoor use and use patterns of consumer products in EU member states - survey report [WP 5.2].

Results on household consumption and use habits are inventoried and translated to make them applicable as input for simulated real life emission testing experiments and exposure and health risk assessments. A review on available literature on consumer product emission testing was reported in ‘D 5.3 Review of the literature on methods of measurement of chemical emissions from consumer products’ [WP 5.3]

Work Package 6 (Specific Objective 3) Experiments focussed on data gaps on product emissions or on typical uses or use habits, identified in BUMAC and in the European market survey. Within all product classes, 15 relevant consumer product classes were selected for real life emission testing applying climate chamber technology (based on standardised methods). Using analytical techniques, emission rates of the set of key indoor pollutants and emerging indoor pollutants are quantified for 25 different products (EU most used product types and brands). Additionally emission profiles, and all emitted compounds, other than key pollutants, are identified. Experimental setups simulated typical European uses and use pattern circumstances for the products. The strategy for assessing product emissions in EPHECT, the methods and means used in EPHECT, are reported in the following documents: ‘D 6.2 Quantification of the product emissions by laboratory testing WP6: Part I Consumer Product Test Protocol’ [WP 6.2], ‘D 6.3 Quantification of the product emissions by laboratory testing WP6: Part II Results of product testing experiments’ [WP 6.3] and ‘D6.4 Guidance on product emissions by laboratory testing: The EPHECT Experience’ [WP 6.4]. This strategy consisted of the formulation of an EPHECT umbrella for consumer product testing, that covers all 15 product classes included in EPHECT, in order to harmonize the strategy for consumes product testing. A QA/QC strategy, outlined in the referred documents, included a comparison between the outcomes of product testing in climate chambers of different dimensions. The outcomes of the consumer product testing of the 25 selected consumer products are reported in ‘D 6.4 Outcomes of consumer product emission testing of 25 products’ [WP 6.1]. Secondary reaction product formation in presence of ozone was studied for 3 different consumer products. In ‘D7 Quantification of product emissions from transformation reactions with terpene chemistry in a test chamber, simulating exposures from a kitchen cleaning agent, a passive air freshener, and a plug-in air freshener’ [WP6.5] the outcomes of these experiments are reported. Data on primary emitted products, secondary reaction products and quantified emissions were added to the BUMAC database. Addressed more in detail in WP6.

Work Package 7 (Specific Objective 4): After an exhaustive review on health effects of adults and susceptible population groups, due to the inhalation of prioritized pollutants, all data were compiled to obtain an accurate health risk assessment. Inhalation exposure in households is quantified and evaluated by modelling (new) data on product emissions and European use patterns. Using an exposure model for different microenvironments, exposure to secondary pollutants is estimated. The strategy followed for exposure and health risk assessment is reported in the WP7 document: ‘Report on health risk associated with emissions from household use of selected consumer products’ [WP7.3]. Information on current European health risk reduction options associated with consumer product emissions has been reviewed. Addressed in WP7 [WP7.4] (to be used as a basis for WP8).

Work Package 8 (Specific Objective 5): Collaborating partners and involved policy makers are invited to formulate product policy and guidance suggestions, taking into account the new BUMAC database. This involvement was organised on different levels: (1) by the involvement of stakeholders as collaborating partners, (2) by inviting stakeholders to review reports published in EPHECT, and (3) by organising the EPHECT Stakeholder meeting on the 15

th of May 2013. This resulted in the

formulation of risk management guidance for users and recommendations for policy-makers, such as feasible options to reduce citizens’ exposures to consumer product emissions. The outcomes are reported in D 10 Report on existing policies, risk management guidance and recommendations for policy Makers [WP 8.1]. Addressed more in detail in WP8.

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Target groups The -first- target group of EPHECT has a professional interest in EPHECT and thus includes stakeholders such as consumer product manufacturers and traders, coordinating associations, consumer organisations, policy makers and researchers. They have knowledge on, and a professional interest in consumer product composition and emissions, exposures related to use, associated health risks and possible reduction strategies. Aiming at valid and usable results, they were consulted and involved in a consistent way throughout the project’s progress. Therefore, relevant stakeholders agreed on a role as collaborating partners in EPHECT. At well-defined moments during the project’s progress they were consulted and as members of the Project Evaluation Committee (PEC), most have been charged with the evaluation of deliverables and milestones (Industrial partners are excluded from PEC). In the EPHECT Stakeholder Meeting (15

th of May 2013), a larger group of stakeholders was consulted on EPHECT and (research and

policy) needs in this field. On the EPHECT Final Event (18th

of September 2013), the outcomes of EPHECT were presented to 66 relevant stakeholders, a survey on their points of view documents their interest and point of view towards EPHECT and the needs after EPHECT.

The -second- target group has a personal interest in EPHECT. These include citizens, using consumer products in households and exposing themselves and other occupants to product emissions. They are consulted during the project’s progress, since a statistically representative part of the European citizens is involved in the market study on uses and use patterns. This second subgroup’s major interest focuses on the results of EPHECT, namely guidelines and exposure reduction policies. By means of a website and newsletters, WP2 puts special attention on the dissemination of results to the general public and all EU Member States. In WP8, the section ‘Risk management guidance for consumers’ was targeted to consumer product users.

Evaluation of the degree of achievement of the objectives and discussion based on the project's indicators as outlined in your evaluation plan/ WP3. According to the evaluation plan, the BUMAC database was set up to contain information on compositions, emissions, exposures, health risks and endpoints according to a comprehensive literature review. This allowed for a set of criteria in order to select product classes according to the aim of EPHECT and that data gaps are known. The degree of achievement by evaluation is 100% according to the review performed by PEC members. A website (www.ephect.eu) which is accessible by professionals has been installed.

In order to assess the indoor use and use patterns of consumer products and in EU member states, a survey strategy was at first conducted and thereupon a comprehensive online survey addressing over 600,000 consumers with 4335 responses. The use and use patterns of household products could realistically be simulated, and it allowed for a selection of 15 product classes as per name and type. This has been documented by several reports and evaluated by PEC members. The degree of achievement here is 100%.

Laboratory experiments identified key pollutants and quantified emissions from chosen consumer products. A simulation of exposure under real use conditions could be conducted by test chamber experiments as one output indicator. Guidelines for chamber experiments could be elaborated, and as an additional output indicator, an inter-comparison of three selected products in different dimensional test chambers was performed. This allowed to fill in research gaps on emissions of key pollutants, as planned to be one outcome indicator of the quantification objective. The objective of quantification of emissions could be fully achieved.

The objective of assessing the exposure and health risk on the use of consumer products has come into process by applying IAQ modelling techniques. This allowed for the study of the health effects of key pollutants and thereupon the assessment of the health risk related to the use of consumer products. As one outcome indicator data could be newly generated as measured by data gaps on health risk of consumer products that helped to fill into the BUMAC database.

For the objective to formulate guidance for risk management and policy options, the process indicator were at first a thorough review of existing policies in European countries as well as worldwide. Second, there should actually be stakeholders involved. As an output indicator, a guidance and recommendation on risk management for policy makers should be formulated. The achievement should be a measure of the level of approval by stakeholders and policy makers. This could not be fully achieved, as a guide could not be formulated and approved by stakeholders and policymakers. However, this objective could fulfil its mission by proposing strategies for the development of new guidelines, which has been accepted by stakeholders and policy makers invited to a meeting.

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Results and key findings Please discuss the results achieved in terms of outputs and (actual or expected) outcomes and their potential impact and use by the target group (including the socio-economic impact, the wider societal implications of the project and contribution to the policy development at all levels of governance (EU, MS, Regional and local). Specific Objective 1 The database integrates information on compositions, emissions, exposures, health risks and health end points reported in international publications and studies; the strategy of the data inventory for the database is communicated in a Strategy Document (‘D 4.1 Strategy for data collection on product emissions [WP4.1]), in which all potential information sources are addressed in a structured way. The database compiles the data in such a way that it provides valuable information to identify data gaps and allows a motivated selection of 15 relevant product classes in EPHECT (reported in ‘D 4.2 Literature review on product composition, emitted compounds, and emission rates and health end points from consumer products’ [WP4.2]). The BUMAC database is open access, and designed in a user-friendly interface. This will allow researchers as well as policymakers to have access to the emission data and the information on the uses and use scenarios of the consumer products (data on EU uses and use scenarios is uploaded and consultable in BUMAC)

The database integrates information on compositions, emissions, exposures, health risks and health end points reported in international publications and studies. (Y)

It compiles the data to provide a clear view on data gaps and allows a motivated selection of 15 relevant product classes. (Y)

Specific Objective 2 Parameters, necessary to provide a European statistically representative overview on, and to obtain a realistic simulation of, European uses, use patterns and habits for the 15 product classes, are selected based on a literature review document reported in ‘D5.3 Review of the literature on methods of measurement of chemical emissions from consumer products’ [WP5.6]. A survey protocol was designed prior to the market study, in order to achieve a representative dataset on EU uses and use patterns of the EPHECT consumer products: ‘D5.1 Indoor use and use pattern of consumer products in EU Member States: Survey Protocol’ [WP5.2]. The outcomes of the market survey are reported in a report (D5.2 Survey on indoor use and use patterns of consumer products in EU Member States - survey report [WP5.4]), but also in an easily accessible presentation, that provides an overview of the data, as well as in excel files in order to communicate the data between project partners. Beyond EPHECT, the outcomes of the market study on consumer product uses [WP5.4] are accessible to all exposure and health risk assessment researchers and policy makers, with interest on details on use scenario’s, ventilation habits, product selection criteria, used quantities etc. As the information is available on country level, on geographical region level and on EU-wide level, any exposure assessment exercise, or analysis of use scenario’s can benefit from these data obtained in EPHECT.

All data, necessary to provide a European statistically representative overview on, and to obtain a realistic simulation of, European uses, use patterns and habits for the 15 product classes, are reported in a document (Y)

A document reporting all results of the survey on use and use patterns in Europe is accessible and applicable by other project partners (Y)

Specific Objective 3 Detailed descriptions of the consumer product emission test protocols and outcomes are reported in the reports: ‘D 6.2 Quantification of the product emissions by laboratory testing WP6: Part I Consumer Product Test Protocol’ [WP6.2] and ‘D 6.3 Quantification of the product emissions by laboratory testing WP6: Part II Results of product testing experiments’ [WP6.3]. These data provide a valuable basis for the harmonisation process of future consumer product emission testing standardisation. Full-scale exposure studies have been performed for 25 different product brands (EU most used products) of 15 product classes. Based on the EPHECT experience, guidelines for consumer product testing using climate chambers, and simulating realistic use conditions have been formulated in the report ‘D6.4 Guidance on product emissions by laboratory testing: The EPHECT Experience’ [WP6.4]. The newly generated data fulfil the identified research gaps on emissions of key indoor pollutants from 15 consumer product classes, by giving an overview of the outcomes of testing 25 different products. All outcomes from the product emission testing are included in BUMAC and accessible for researchers, policy makers and other stakeholders.

In D7 Quantification of product emissions from transformation reactions with terpene chemistry in a test chamber, simulating exposures from a kitchen cleaning agent, a passive air freshener, and a plug-in air freshener [WP6.5], 3 consumer products have been studied in ozone enriched atmospheres. Quantified secondary reaction products include formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, but also poly-oxygenates like IPOH (3-Isopropenyl-6-oxo-heptanal), 6-MHO (6-methyl-5-heptene-2-one), 4-AMCH (4-Acetyl-1-methylcyclohexene) and 4-OPA (4-oxo-pentanal), known to be typical key oxidation products of limonene. A tentative health risk assessment on respiratory effects of the quantified secondary reaction products was based on recent human reference values (Wolkoff et al., 2013) and reported Lowest-Observed-Adverse-Effect-Level (LOAEL) values for formaldehyde and acrolein.

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A simulation of full-scale exposure studies for 15 products, guidelines for climate chamber experiments, simulating realistic use conditions (Y)

The newly generated data fulfil identified research gaps on emissions of key indoor pollutants from 15 consumer products. (Y)

Specific Objective 4 Literature review of ventilation rates across the European dwellings [WP7.1 and WP7.2] was carried out in order to provide input to modelling studies. Indoor air modelling was then performed based on these ventilation rates (and also for 0.1ach, in order to be proactive) and on emission rates derived from emission testing of products indicated as most popular from, the EPHECT market study. Exposure assessment was performed based on the most representative worst-case scenario, according to which the highest emission rate was used for every EPHECT target compound, emitted during the household use of the selected consumer products. A methodology was developed to construct scenarios for the use of consumer products by two population groups (housewives and retired people) in the 4 geographical areas of Europe: North, West, South, and East (i.e. 8 population groups). Indoor air modelling was performed on 3 levels of complexity: Level 1: one product, one compound in one microenvironment (CONC-CPM, comparison with BAMA model); Level 2: many products, one compound, exposure in one microenvironment (CONC-CPM model) and Level 3: many products, all compounds (that can be modelled) in one dwelling, including thus several microenvironments (IAQ chemical model with lumped chemical scheme). Because of its complexity as well as the indoor environmental parameters needed for the latter simulation, this level could only be accomplished for the U.K. For risk characterisation, the exposure assessment was related/compared to the health-based limits of exposure for each target compound.

This work led to the formulation of a general guidance for deriving exposure concentrations via modelling under representative conditions [WP7.3]. Health-based limits of exposure for selected key and emerging pollutants (focussing on inhalation exposure and respiratory diseases) were formulated. Furthermore, basic principles for health risk assessment in relation to selected pollutants emitted from consumer products were established.

A study on adverse health effects of key and emerging pollutants supports the inhalation exposure and health risk assessment, related to household use of consumer products. (Y)

The newly generated data fulfil the identified research gaps on health risk assessment related to the household use of the 15 consumer products. (Y)

Specific Objective 5 On the 15th of May 2013, the EPHECT Stakeholder Meeting took place in Brussels, aiming at (1) a presentation of the results of the project to stakeholders, and (2) receiving their feedback on what regards actions are to be taken. After a discussion on several related aspects, a set of main conclusions could be retained. Participants were mostly univocal to highlight the need for well defined procedures and clear messages from policies. In general, key words used by the represented stakeholders were ‘Harmonization’ and ‘Simplification’. Risk management guidance and recommendations for policy were formulated with respect to the feedback from stakeholders.

A final feedback from stakeholders of EPHECT, the followed strategy, the outcomes and the way forward for risk management guidance and policy recommendations was organised during the dissemination at the EPHECT Final Meeting at the European Parliament (on the 18

th of September 2013). At the end of this event, an interactive

stakeholder consultation took place by means of a voting system. The outcomes are included in D 10 Report on existing policies, risk management guidance and recommendations for policy Makers [WP8.1]

Risk management guidance and recommendations for policy-makers are well formulated and in agreement with the point of view of stakeholders and the review on currently existing policies. (Y)

Approval of stakeholders (Y)

Specific Objective 6 (evaluation ) The evaluation of the project necessitated a monitoring of the process indicators according to the above outlined objectives. This was performed by at first defining indicators as outlined in the evaluation plan and as in accordance with the overall objectives of EPHECT. This included further a monitoring process in terms of quantitative achievement of single milestones and deliverables and in terms of their quality. As a conclusion of this, the following can be explained:

Both the timing and the content of the milestones and deliverables are in agreement with the specific objectives and the defined indicators: Yes, the milestones and deliverables have been defined and refined over the course of the EPHECT project and are in line with the overall objective of EPHECT.

they are positively evaluated by PEC. (Y/N): At this stage, there must be a Yes and No answer, as some of the deliverables and milestones have not been completely reviewed yet: few reviews are still due and will be submitted in the near future.

All milestones and deliverables are achieved by M36 (Y)

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Coordination with other projects or activities at European, National and International level

The BUMA project: The BUMAC database on consumer product emissions was formulated in a similar format as the BUMA database (BUMA project, “Prioritisation of building materials as indoor pollution sources” Bartzis et al., 2006-2009). Both databases have a complementary content, as the BUMAC database focuses on consumer products and the BUMA database on building materials. The combined use of both databases provides product emission factors of a wide range of products, in order to perform more accurate exposure and health risk assessment.

The EnVIE project: The EC project ENVIE (European co-ordination action on “Indoor Air Quality and Health Effects” Oliveira Fernandes et al., 2004-2008) prioritized two main strategies for risk reduction, i.e. “source control” where the nature or strength of the sources, or even their existence indoors is removed, replaced or moderated, and “exposure control”, essentially through ventilation. In EPHECT the ENVIE approach was supported, in which the need to promote the first strategy was stressed, following the precautionary principle, according to which prevention is better than restitution, mitigation and restoration.

The Officair project: As part of the FP7 project Officair (“On the reduction of health effects from combined exposure to indoor pollutants in Modern Offices” Bartzis et al., 2010-2013) new analytical techniques have been developed and optimized to quantify secondary reaction products resulting from ozone initiated reactive chemistry. The new methods have been applied in EPHECT, in order to assess secondary reaction products resulting from consumer product emissions in ozone enriched atmospheres.

CEN TC 421 Emission safety of combustible air fresheners: to increase the sustainability of EPHECT outcomes, an EPHECT representative contributes to CEN TC 421 on Combustible Air Fresheners in which a test evaluation protocol for scented candles is designed and validated.

A.I.S.E. Candle emission test protocol: AP from EPHECT have been actively involved in contributing to the A.I.S.E. candle emission test protocol. Experience has been exchanges on working groups.

INFLAME Marie Curie Initial Training Network: An Early Stage researcher working on flame retardant emissions from building materials, furnishings and consumer products inspired the development of a test protocol for flame retardant emission testing on the D6.4 Guidance on product emissions by laboratory testing: The EPHECT Experience [WP6.4]’

Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowships for Career Development (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF) - submitted:, titled: “Towards development, harmonization and optimization of the emission test protocol for consumer cleaning products”. Two EPHECT associated partners have organised this collaboration in which the experience of EPHECT reported in D6.4 Guidance on product emissions by laboratory testing: The EPHECT Experience [WP6.4], will be further explored using sophisticated CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) modelling to investigate all the major emission mechanisms and hygrothermal and flow parameters that may affect the emission of the cleaning products and lead to different outcomes between smaller test chambers and the real life situation

IPCheM (Information Platform for Chemical Monitoring) BUMAC is among the databases considered to feed into the recently launched project by DG ENV the development of which is co-ordinated by JRC in close consultation with EEA, EFSA, ECHA and EC services (DGs SANCO, RTD, ENTR)

EU LCI Working group: in the frame of the possibility of expanding / applying EU LCI concept for building materials to consumer products; AP from EPHECT were active in this working group.

Strategic relevance, contribution to the Health Programme, EU added value and level of innovation. This project promotes European citizen’s health, firstly by developing and proposing guidance for the quantification emissions related to the household use of consumer products and secondly, by proposing an innovative methodology for exposure and health risks assessments related to target compounds contained in consumer products. Based on the contribution of EPHECT to the knowledge and experience in consumer product emission testing in climate chambers, the first steps towards a harmonised and standardised approach in emission testing are taken. A novel approach for indoor exposure assessment and respiratory health risk evaluation, in which the impact of the combined use of consumer products is determined, is a promising and valuable tool for future integral indoor exposure studies. The BUMAC database, by integrating all relevant emission data as well as details on uses and use scenario’s in the EU, provides a valuable and sustainable tool, to guarantee a continued use of the EPHECT outcomes as well as a continued possibility to update the database with new emission data.

By proposing actions to control exposure to hazardous and other health relevant household consumer product emissions the project also contributes to the Health Programme. The exposure reduction strategies may contribute to a decrease of the risk for asthma, allergies and other respiratory diseases due to household exposures.

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Effectiveness of the dissemination The dissemination work package was initiated with a dissemination plan. In this plan, dissemination initiatives have been listed for each EPHECT deliverable:

DELIVERABLES Website Leaflet Newsletter Scient. publ. Stakeholder

meeting Final Event

Project protocol X (password)

Techn. & fin. doc. X (password)

Meeting reports X

Evaluation doc. X (password)

Strategy

X X

Selection relevant products X

X X X X

Use and use patterns X

X X X X

Study of research gaps X

X X X X

Full-scale exposure data X

X X X X

Report on health risk X

X X X X

Risk reduction strategies X

X X X X

Report on recommendations X

X

X X

For EPHECT we distinguished three different target groups: a ‘general dissemination’, a ‘dissemination to stakeholders’ and a ‘dissemination to scientists and professionals’.

Project website: the link to the project website ‘www.ephect.eu’ was disseminated on any presentation of research output, on the project leaflet, newsletters, the project outcome summary document, the workshop and the Final Event. The website was regularly updated with to date open access presentations of EPHECT, newsletters and the project leaflet. At the end of the contract, once BUMAC was available, a new webpage dedicated to the BUMAC database was added to the site.

Leaflet: 600 copies in total have been distributed by associated and collaborating partners, at conferences where EPHECT was presented as well as at the EPHECT Stakeholder Meeting

Newsletters: 6 documents have been published to inform stakeholders on news updates on EPHECT; two newsletters were shifted towards the end of the contract, in order to disseminate the availability of the BUMAC database as well as the availability of all EPHECT outcomes and deliverables on the project website. One newsletter was distributed in the format of Summarizing Outcomes of EPHECT, which was distributed at the EPHECT Final Event and afterwards on the EPHECT project website.

Scientific Publications:

Authors Title Journal title and reference

Publication

date

Submission

date

C. Dimitroulopoulou

Venti lation in European dwel l ings :

a Review. Bui lding and Environment, Vol 47, 109-125. 2012

A.W. Nørgaard, J.D.

Kudal , V. Kofoed-

Sørensen, I.K. Koponen,

and P. Wolkoff

Airway effects of ozone-ini tiated

VOC and particle emiss ions from a

cleaning agent and an a i r

freshener: A risk assessment

paper to be submitted medio December 2013

dec/13

Bartzis ,J.,Wolkoff,P,Stran

ger,M.,Efthimiou,G.,Tol is ,

E.,Maes ,F.,Norgaard,A.W.

,Ventura,G.,Ka l imeri ,K.,G

oelen,E., Fernandes ,O

BUMAC - A Consumer Product

Emiss ion Database

paper to be submitted to Environmental

Model l ing & Software

dec/13

Bartzis ,J.,Wolkoff,P,Stran

ger,M.,Efthimiou,G.,Tol is ,

E.,Maes ,F.,Norgaard,A.W.

,Ventura,G.,Ka l imeri ,K.,G

oelen,E., Fernandes ,O

Intercomparisons on organic

emiss ions from indoor consumer

products ’ use.

dec/13

Dimitroulopoulou et a l . PART I: Development of profi les for

use of consumer products in EU

dwel l ings

in preparation

2014

Dimitroulopoulou et a l . PART II: Population exposure

assessment to consumer products

in preparation

2014

Carrer et a l . PART III: Health risk assessment

related to emiss ions from

household use of selected

consumer products – the cases of

s ingle and multiple product use

in preparation

2014

24

Presentations on relevant symposia and workshops:

25

EPHECT Stakeholder Meeting: 33 participants, of which 21 external from EPHECT and 12 associated partners were present at the EPHECT Stakeholder Meeting. Active involvement and interaction between stakeholders and associated partners was guaranteed by means of a ‘Stakeholder Consultation’ session, in which working groups worked together to formulate a point of view on a list of relevant statements in the context of EPHECT [WP2.9]

EPHECT Final Event: 350 persons were invited, of which 66 participated at the event at the European Parliament on the evening of the 18

th of September 2013. Active involvement and representative feedback from the audience on relevant aspects related

to the topic ‘the way forward after EPHECT’, have been obtained by means of an electronic voting system, in which the voting outcomes were displayed graphically to the audience during the event [WP2.11].

Conclusions and recommendations, sustainability of the project (after EC co-funding) and lessons learned. One of the major outcomes of EPEHCT was the development of a database on the state of the art of emissions from consumer products and related health points. This database, named BUMAC (considered complementary to the BUMA database on building materials’ emissions) includes emissions and health endpoints for consumer products. The database contains (1) info retrieved from literature review (222 references on consumer products is summarised in 218 pages concerning all consumer products available on the market; (2) nearly 3000 data from emission testing of consumer products. The database also contains all newly generated emission testing data, generated in EPHECT. Throughout the project, as well as after the EC co-funding, the BUMAC database will be continuously updated and aims to become a reference database at EU level integrating other existing relevant databases. The publicly available part of BUMAC will not contain brand names of the consumer products considered, tested and evaluated.

Also after the finalisation of EPHECT the BUMAC database will be updated with newly generated emission data. The BUMAC webpage will stay available after the finalisation of the contract and will be applied and included in new projects (such as IPCheM) in order to assure the sustainability of the EPHECT outcomes.

A second major outcome of EPHECT is the collected information on EU uses and use scenarios of selected consumer products. This was performed using a survey methodology that aimed at collecting information on the household use of consumer products, focused on information needed to perform representative emission testing and indoor exposure and risk assessment in EPHECT. The survey covers four European geographical regions (Western, Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe) and consists of 4335 interviews performed in 10 EU countries. Important aspects included were: frequency of use of the consumer products, time and place where these products are used, most popular brands of consumer products, most used formats/types of consumer products, behaviour patterns (respecting use guidelines, dilution, use of gloves, etc.), and the quantities of product used. In parallel to this work, an exhaustive review was performed of existing methods for measuring emissions of consumer products with some 95 references, including standards.

It is important to emphasize that for an appropriate exposure and risk assessment assessment of consumer products the EPHECT recommends that this type of information should be required for any consumer product studied in the future

A third major EPHECT project outcome is the formulation of a general framework for consumer product test protocols; to assess emissions related to the use and typical use scenarios of consumer and personal care products in households. The so-called EPHECT Umbrella for consumer product testing respects the unavailability of existing standards on emission testing of the consumer products studied within EPHECT. Therefore, the strategy respects for as much as possible existing ISO standards and other relevant emission test and evaluation protocols and standards for building materials. Protocols were developed for: (1) Liquid consumer and personal care products such as fluids, creams and gels (products packed in a flask; products packed in a spray bottle; products packed to be volatilized) and (2) for solid consumer and personal care products (candles). Within the EPHECT project the Umbrella for consumer product testing was optimized and fine-tuned on the basis of experiments on emission testing of consumer products which were performed in various labs. Analysis of the same product and product category was performed at least by two labs with chambers of different sizes. This allowed to obtain valuable information about the potential errors in estimating emissions rates from consumer products which in turn impact on the exposure and risk assessment evaluations. In brief, VOCs emissions were quantified and the profiles of particles emissions were identified in a systematic way using extended QA/QC procedures on emission testing and chemical analysis which included reproducibility of emission testing. A valuable document is the ‘Guidance on emission testing’, in which the lessons learned in EPHECT are reported.

It should emphasized that the EPHECT general framework for consumer products testing should be considered as a first step towards a harmonized laboratory testing experiments for a wide number and type of consumer products. In this sense, this work should be considered as pre-normative which may feed into and inform future relevant standardization work. There is a need for more tests studying the variability between brands as well as for further

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testing of robustness by round robins in chambers of different size.

EPHECT developed an innovative methodology for exposure and health risk assessment related to the household use of consumer products in which for the first time ever the following information is combined: (1) specific emission rates from EPHECT test chamber experiments, (2) EU representative information on use and use patterns of the selected consumer products, and (3) EU wide surveyed ventilation rates in households. This allowed the calculation of product pollution concentrations in real-life environments and the exposure of population groups. In EPHECT, an exposure and health risk assessment was performed for 8 population groups (women and retired persons; 4 EU geographical regions) and 15 consumer products. The evaluation was restricted to the respiratory health related to 5 target pollutants (among those prioritised by WHO and EU-INDEX).

There is a need to relate, for all relevant pollutants, the exposure to concentrations in one micro environment (multiple sources) and to use this information for designing through a multi-stakeholder cooperation a “simplified” evaluation scheme (no different signals to the public opinion); every stakeholder should be required. Future work is needed exposures to mixtures, including different relevant health end points (justified by TVOC levels and terpene reactions and some products come in the vicinity of individual pollutant limit values). It should also be considered, how the EU-LCI concept developed for construction products can be adopted (when and where relevant) and how to handle the health impact of transformation reactions with ozone.

There is a need for EU harmonized simplified protocols for consumer product testing. Pre- normative work of EPHECT is valuable for future standardisation of emission testing of consumer products. The support of all actors is crucial in this process. Consultations of stakeholders (EPHECT Stakeholder meeting and EPHECT Final Event) highlighted the importance and need by stakeholders for more harmonization and simplification.

The sustainability of the project will be maintained by keeping the www.ephect.eu website up-to-date, by adding references of recent scientific publications and updating BUMAC. Several publications are still in preparation, and contributions to upcoming events and international conferences are submitted to the respective organising committees: e.g. Indoor Air 2014, and AirMon 2014.

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SECTION VI

Horizontal Work packages Work package title : Coordination of the project Work package Number : 1 Work package Leader: VITO Number of associated partners involved : 8 Number of person/ days of this work package: 306 Total budget of this work package: € 158.564 Starting Date - Ending date: 01/06/2010 – 30/09/2013 Project management Management Plan available yes/no Sustainability plan available, describing the measures taken to ensure the continuation of the action after the end of the EC funding yes/no Partnership Internal Agreement yes/no Description of the work package: Through this WP all the actions are linked together and communication with the EC is maintained. The coordinator is responsible for all legal, administrative and financial matters, in conformance to the EU contract and contact with the EC. Moreover, the coordinator will be responsible for the overall coordination of the scientific and technical activities of the project. A Project Protocol is formulated, to provide a detailed description of the overall tasks and each AP's tasks in the different WPs (incl. tasks attributed to CPs). Each WP leader is responsible for the realisation of the WP’s deliverables. The coordinator coaches the ‘Project Steering Group’ (PSG) which will function as the overall management and coordination board comprising a representation from the main partner and each associated partner. All important decisions regarding activities, finances, priorities, etc. will be taken within this group. The ‘advisory group’ (AG) is formed by the collaborating partners. The AG and the PSG gather to discuss on the selection of products, recommendation on experiments and policies (industrial CP will only participate as a stakeholder). Overall, 6 PSG meetings and 3 meetings attended by the AG. Minutes and presence lists are formulated. Activities undertaken to ensure the coordination and management of the project and the partnership and to ensure that the activities are implemented as planned. Partnership management of tasks and achievements

- The project protocol [WP1.30] was formulated during the first 3 months of the contract. This document includes (1) a detailed description of tasks per WP, (2) a risk matrix, (3) a task description of CPs in the different WP’s, (4) a mapping of relevant stakeholders and actors, and (5) a dissemination plan.

- 5 project steering group meetings, 8 informal meetings between AP of which 6 physical meetings and 2 teleconferences; 3 teleconferences for CP, and one physical meeting with CP A.I.S.E. [WP1.1-WP1.29]

- Meeting minutes [WP1.1-WP1.29] were action oriented for each WP and each AP. Prior to each PSG meeting, a ppt presentation template was distributed by the main partner, in order to summarize per work package the status of the agreed tasks and to present the tasks of the next 6 months.

Management structure description, summary of the steering committee, advisory – board

- The coordinator coached the ‘Project Steering Group’ which functioned as the overall management and coordination board, and was comprised of a representation from the main partner and each associated partner. Important decisions regarding activities and the content of EPHECT, finances, priorities, etc. were discussed in PSG meetings or during informal meetings of this group; all decisions were reported in PSG meeting minutes, of which the content was approved by the APs.

Description of the internal communication channels

- E-mail was the most used internal communication channel; 2 teleconferences were organised: and 6 informal meetings to discuss specific aspects of work packages.

- Draft deliverables and working documents were shared on a password secured page on the project website

Monitoring and supervision

- Annual follow-up of the man days spent for each AP, per WP (by means of an Excel template and time sheets)

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- At least 3 follow-ups of the expenses made by each partner (by means of an Excel template)

- Interim evaluation of spent man days in relation to finalized tasks and achievements, per partner.

- Follow-up of achievements per work package by means of the ‘EPHECT time table’ [WP1.31a and-WP1.31b], indicating all milestones, deliverables and meetings on a time scale.

Problems that have occurred and how they were solved or envisaged solutions

1. ANSES was in the impossibility to fulfil their tasks in WP5, output is delayed

2. TUM didn’t possess emission test chambers to fulfil their tasks (to generate emission data) in WP6.

3. The EPHECT consortium agreement is signed by 7/8 partners in 06/2011. TUM refuses to sign due to a disagreement with the consortium agreement content.

4. A.I.S.E. sent 5 letters (dated 15/10/2010, 16/02/2011, 04/05/2011, 24/04/2012, 19/06/2012), addressed to the EPHECT coordination and responsible WP leader of WP4. The letters concerned the WP4 literature review, product class selection procedure and the resulting set of consumer product classes to be tested (WP4)

5. The survey duration of the WP5 market study was extended because of the intercept with the summer holidays; in WP6 additional product emission tests have been performed (test chamber intercomparison experiment, additional verifications, additional product brands/types); the EPHECT Stakeholder Meeting took place in May 2013 which didn’t leave sufficient time to implement the outcomes in WP8; the EPHECT Final Meeting hosted by Mrs. Catherine Stihler took place in September 2013 (after the initial end date of the contract)

How were problems resolved

1. ANSES has subcontracted Cranfield University since 01/11/2011 in order to fulfil their tasks in WP5.

2. Organisation of an additional meeting, following PSG 3, to re-define the contribution of TUM to WP6, taking into account available laboratory techniques and methods of this lab.

3. Several initiatives from the coordinator as well as their juridical department to compromise, via telephone and e-mail conversation. In PSG meeting 4 (December 2011) the consortium agreement was an item on the agenda. After that a compromise was found and on the 9th of March 2012 the Agreement was signed by all AP.

4. Three written answer letters (09/11/2010, 06/05/2011, 15/05/2012) have been formulated and sent to A.I.S.E. [WP1.31a and WP1.31b] Furthermore a teleconference between A.I.S.E. and the project coordinator has been organized (05/07/2011). This conversation revealed important misunderstandings from this CP’s side on the objectives and the project call requirements of EPHECT. These issues were clarified and were followed by a constructive conversation on the project’s continuation [WP1.74]. After the second last letter, the coordinator has proposed a physical meeting between EPHECT and A.I.S.E., in order to clarify EPHECT, the role of a CP and possible benefits for EPHECT as well as A.I.S.E. This constructive meeting took place on the 23th of October 2012 [WP1.22; WP1.23]. As a consequence of the meeting, after review, all deliverables are made available to CPs prior to uploading them on the open-access part of the website. No deliverables are published before the end of the contract.

5. An extension of the contract duration until the 30th of September was requested in the Second Amendment.

Impact of possible deviations from the planned milestones and deliverables

The extension of the contract duration until the 30th of September 2013 was translated in an adapted ‘EPHECT Timetable’ for milestones and deliverables, that was communicated to the Executive Agency together with the application of the Second Amendment

List of project meetings, dates, venues, annotated agenda, action oriented minutes

Meeting Date Venue Agenda Minutes

Kick-off meeting 21-22/06/2010 Luxembourg, Rue Guillaume Kroll 4-6

(building Drosbach)

[WP1.1] [WP1.2]

Informal WP4 meeting 06/10/2010 Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment - Place Victor Horta 40, Brussels, Belgium

[WP1.4] [WP1.3]

Second PSG meeting 09-10/12/2010 VITO - Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium

[WP1.5] [WP1.6]

Third PSG and AG meeting 23-24/05/2011 Sol Kipriotis Village Resort, Kos, Greece [WP1.8] [WP1.7]

Informal WP6 meeting 23-06/2011 Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment - Place Victor Horta 40, Brussels, Belgium

[WP1.9] [WP1.10]

Informal WP5 meeting 13/07/2011 VITO, Roderveldlaan 5, 2600 Antwerp, Belgium

Teleconference A.I.S.E. 05/07/2011 - [WP1.11]

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Teleconference WP6 15/10/2011 - [WP1.12] [WP1.13]

Teleconference CP 07/11/2011 - [WP1.14]

Fourth PSG meeting 11-12/12/2011 Department of Occupational Health (Clinica del Lavoro Luigi Devoto), Milan, Italy

[WP1.16] [WP1.15]

Informal meeting WP4, WP5, WP6, WP7

09/05/2012 Hotel Forum, Rome, Italy [WP1.18] [WP1.17]

Teleconference WP6 24/05/2012 - [WP1.19]

Informal meeting WP6 Inercomparison

21/06/2012 Graaf de Ferraris building, Ministerie van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap, Koning Albert II -laan 20, 1000 Brussels, Belgium

[WP1.21] [WP1.20]

EPHECT – A.I.S.E. meeting 23/10/2012 A.I.S.E. premises [WP1.22] [WP1.23]

Fifth PSG and AG meeting 29-30/10/2012 Círculo Universitário do Porto, Porto, Portugal

[WP1.24] [WP1.25]

Informal meeting WP6-WP7-WP8 22-03/2013 ‘Boudewijngebouw’, Ministerie van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap, Boudewijnlaan 30, 1000 Brussels, Belgium

[WP1.27] [WP1.26]

Informal meeting WP6 WP7 05/07/2013 VITO, Roderveldlaan 5, 2600 Antwerp, Belgium

[WP1.29] [WP1.28]

EPHECT Final Event 18/09/2013 European Parliament, Brussels [WP2.11]

Amendments incurred or requested during the reporting period

During the reporting period 2 amendments are made. The first amendment is initiated on 20/07/2011 and is signed by the EAHC on 28/02/2013 [WP1.50]. The second amendment was initiated on 26/03/2013 and is signed by the EAHC on 15/10/2013 [WP1.51]. An additional letter dd 12.07.2013 was made for the second amendment to change the end date of the project [WP1.52].

Any changes to the legal status of any of the beneficiaries

The associated partner AFSSET changed its name in ANSES. This change is reported in amendment 1.

Financial Management

At the start of the project a guideline document for the budget reporting [WP1.43], a guideline document for subcontracting

[WP1.44] and standard excel templates were available: a template for the registration of the mandays [WP1.56], a standard template for the travel costs [WP1.54], a template for subcontracting [WP1.55] and also a summarizing excel table with the budgets E1-E7 of each partner. 6 times during the project the financial information and the mandays of the partners were collected and compared with the initial budget estimations of the partners and the tasks executed (April 2011, November 2011, October 2012, March 2013, October 2013 and November 2013). The estimated and spent mandays and budgets of each partner are reported in an Excel sheet ‘E1-E7_partner_date’. Based on the comparison of the estimated budgets, spent mandays and the work to do for the rest of the project some budget reorganisations were executed for the partners. The budget reorganisations were reported in the 2 amendments.

Subcontracting rules applied and description of the process for implementing the public procurement (E5 subcontracting cost), if applicable

At the start of the project a guideline document for subcontracting [WP1.44] was developed with an additional excel template to fill in with the information of the subcontracting procedure followed [WP1.55]. For each subcontract a minimum number of organisations needed to be contacted for participation to the subcontracting procedure.

Conclusions

The PSG meetings, as scheduled in the Grant Agreement, were expanded with informal meetings. The location, the content and the timing of these meetings, was determined by issues to be discussed or decisions to be made within one work package, or between 2 or more work packages. Meeting minutes of PSG meetings as well as informal meetings focussed on the formulation of agreed tasks and associated deadlines, which were evaluated in the next meeting. Close communication within the project steering group and the collaborative partners was maintained by e-mail, net meetings and phone calls, in order to anticipate on delays and decisions to be made. Two amendments were formulated anticipating on time delays and administrative and structural changes in associated institutes.

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List of deliverable(s) linked to this work package Deliverable

Title

1 Project protocol, Technical, financial interim reports and documents of meetings

D1.1 EPHECT Project Protocol

D1.2 Meeting minutes and meeting programmes

D1.3 Financial interim reports

Milestones reached by this WP

Milestone title Month of achievement

1 Project kick-off meeting, project protocol 06-10

2 Intern PSG and AG meeting 07-11

3 Intern PSG meetings (M7, M14, M21, M30) 11-12

4 Final PSG and AG meeting 09-13

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Horizontal Work packages Work package title : Dissemination of the project Work package Number : 2 Work package Leader: VITO Number of associated partners involved : 8 Number of person/ days of this work package: 198 Total budget of this work package: € 90.051 Starting Date - Ending date : 01/06/2010 – 30/09/2013 Dissemination plan available yes/no Project leaflet/brochure/newsletters submitted to EAHC yes/no Project website: www.ephect.eu The EU funding disclaim and EU logo are visible in the project website and public presentations yes/no Description of the work package Description of the key messages.

EPHECT strategy – EPHECT product selection – EPHECT market study – EPHECT structured, harmonized product emission testing – EPHECT guidelines on consumer product testing – EPHECT exposure assessment for women and retired persons – EPHECT respiratory health risk assessment strategy

Visual project identity, including the project logo

The EPHECT logo was designed during the first 3 months of the contract. It was displayed on all documents products published in the frame of EPHECT:

- EPHECT website

- Leaflet [WP2.22]

- Newsletters and summaries [WP2.15 until WP2.20]

- Internal and external reports and presentations [WP2.21]

Activities undertaken to ensure that the results and deliverables have reached the target groups: stakeholder matrix - analysis / target group identification, dissemination content, dissemination means, timing (…)

- A stakeholder mapping was organised within the EPHECT consortium, all addressed stakeholders are listed in the Project Protocol. A group of 350 relevant stakeholders was identified in industry, research, and policy domains. [WP1.30]

- EPHECT CP’s were selected in these relevant domains in order to ensure an involvement and collaboration: Research – Policy: Joint Research Centre (JRC) Institute for Health and Consumer Protection and the Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt, UBA); Industry: International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance products (A.I.S.E.) and European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC); Research - Policy: Product Policy: Belgian Federal Public Service Health, Food Safety and Environment (FOD); Commercial product testing: Eurofins; Marketing and Consumer Research: TUM Business School, Technische Universität München

- The 4th Newsletter was distributed in the format of an extended summary of outcomes, including the project objectives, the strategy and the methods and means. It was distributed at the EPHECT Final Event at the European Parliament and after this event, the document could be downloaded from the website. [WP2.18]

- The 5th EPHECT Newsletter in the end of November 2013 was distributed when all EPHECT deliverables are finalised and reviewed and ready for distribution. In this newsletter an overview of the available documents, as well as hyperlinks to the website are communicated to all identified stakeholders. [WP2.19]

- The 6th EPHECT Newsletter is dedicated to the presentation of the BUMAC database. The newsletter describes the database as well as the objectives beyond EPHECT, and communicates a hyperlink to the new webpage on the EPHECT website. [WP2.20]

Problems encountered

During the EPHECT-A.I.S.E. meeting, the A.I.S.E. requested to be informed on the content of the EPHECT deliverables as well as the distribution hereof [WP1.22 and WP1.23] which is in contradiction to the Grant Agreement

How were problems resolved /limitations

It was agreed in the EPHECT – A.I.S.E. meeting that finalised and reviewed deliverables and working documents were uploaded in the password secured CP site of the EPHECT website. CP’s then had the possibility to provide feedback on uploaded deliverables. Only at the end of the contract, deliverables were uploaded on the open-access part of the website. The minutes of the EPHECT – A.I.S.E. meeting [WP1.23] were communicated to the Executive Agency as well as DG Sanco.

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Conclusions and recommendations for the future

Overview table showing the distribution and target for all project deliverables

D Title Distribution Channel Target audience 1 Project protocol,

Technical, financial interim reports and documents of meetings

Website (password secured) Associated partners Collaborating partners EAHC DG Sanco

2 Implementation of a website, brochure, news updates, a workshop, colloquium and scientific publications

Website, e-mail notification, presentations, scientific publications

Citizens, professionals

3 Project evaluation documents

Project website, password secured TUM Scientific committee TUM

4 Selection of emitting and health relevant products, based on a database on indoor emissions from consumer products

Project website, project presentations, scientific publications [WP2.21] EPHECT Stakeholder meeting [WP2.9]

Professionals, citizens

5 Report on the use, use pattern and habits at EU level for the selected consumer product classes

Project website, project presentations, scientific publications [WP2.21], EPHECT Stakeholder meeting [WP2.9] EPHECT Final Meeting [WP2.11]

Professionals, citizens

6 Study of research gaps on chemical and particulate emissions, associated to household uses of the consumer products

Project website, project presentations, scientific publications [WP2.21] EPHECT Stakeholder meeting [WP2.9], EPHECT Final Meeting [WP2.11]

Professionals

7 Full-scale exposure data and transformation reactions (reactive chemistry for 3 selected products)

Project website, project presentations, scientific publications [WP2.21] EPHECT Stakeholder meeting [WP2.9], EPHECT Final Meeting [WP2.11]

Professionals

8 Report on the health risk associated with emissions from household use of selected products

Project website, project presentations, scientific publications [WP2.21] EPHECT Stakeholder meeting [WP2.9], EPHECT Final Meeting [WP2.11]

Professionals, citizens

9 Overview on existing European health risk reduction options

Project website, project presentations, scientific publications [WP2.21] EPHECT Stakeholder meeting [WP2.9], EPHECT Final Meeting [WP2.11]

Professionals, citizens

10 Report on existing policies, risk management guidance and recommendations for policies

Project website, project presentations, EPHECT Stakeholder meeting [WP2.9], EPHECT Final Meeting [WP2.11]

Professionals, citizens

List of deliverable(s) linked to this work package Deliverable

Title

2 Implementation of a website, brochure, news updates, a workshop, colloquium and scientific publications

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Milestones reached by this WP

Milestone title Month of achievement

1 Formulation of a dissemination plan (as part of the project protocol) Jun/2010

2 Identification of stakeholders list for dissemination of news updates Oct/2010

3 Website online - distribution of brochure Sept/2010

4 Workshop and Final Meeting with stakeholders and international experts Sept/2013

5 Submitted scientific publications on the project results (at least one per WP with innovative results) Nov/2013 – ongoing after EPHECT

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Horizontal Work packages Work package title: Evaluation of the project Work package Number: 3 Work package Leader: TUM Number of associated partners involved: 1 Number of person/ days of this work package: 89 Total budget of this work package: € 38.852 Starting Date - Ending date: 01/06/2010 – 30/09/2013 Evaluation plan available: yes/ no External evaluation: yes/no Description of the work package This Work Package had the task of evaluation of the EPHECT project, including and external evaluation process, which is described in the following. The work started with an outline of an evaluation plan that included for each work package pre-formulated evaluation questions that in turn allowed for the formulation of qualitative and quantitative indicators. The formulation of these questions and indicators occurred on the basis of work package descriptions as outlined in the proposal and further on oral presentations of WP leaders presented at project meetings. It was than upon the PEC (Project Evaluation Committee) meeting in Milan that is was agreed to set up a quantitative and qualitative subject for the evaluation of EPHECT. For both of these subjects, evaluation forms were designed and created in order to have the evaluation steps and progress properly documented and to be able to monitor the progress of EPHECT, both in terms of quantification and quality of the work. The WP leaders were asked to fill in these forms.

The form for the quantitative evaluation required the WP leaders to express a percentage level of achievement against the deliverables and milestones as outlined in the WP1 time table of EPHECT. These forms were collected after PSG meetings, with a break after the Milan meeting (December, 2011), because it became clear that some deliverables and milestones lead to several documents to be reviewed, or would not be finished as in accordance to the initial WP1 EPHECT time table. These deliverables and milestones affected particularly the core work packages WP4, WP6, and WP7. The quantitative evaluation forms [WP3.10] represent the process over the entire duration of the EPHECT project.

The qualitative evaluation required the review of outputs of the EPHECT work. These outputs could be reports, scientific publications or produced subjects such as the BUMAC database, which were created under the responsibility of WP leaders. For the evaluation of quality, these outputs were reviewed by members of the PEC, by AP’s and by the CP’s acting as independent reviewers. In case of a publication, the external review process initiated by the editor of the journal was considered as a valid qualitative evaluation. This entire process was documented on one hand by an evaluation time table and on the other hand by qualitative evaluation forms filled in by WP leaders and acknowledged reviewers. Analogously to the quantitative evaluation, the deliverables and milestones with generated outputs were faced with chosen reviewers and time points for which the review should be achieved.

For an efficient evaluation by PEC, there had to be meetings organised. After the group has been established, PEC members met in total four times: for the first time in Kos (3rd PSG and AG meeting; Dr. Drescher, Mr. Thielen and Mr. Friess) and second in Porto (5th PSG meeting; Dr. Däumling, Mr. Thielen, Mr. Friess, Dr. Letzel). Thereafter, PEC members met further at the EPHECT stakeholder meeting in May 2013 (Dr. Däumling and Dr. Letzel), and at the final meeting in September 2013 in Brussels (Dr. Däumling, Mr. Thielen and Mr. Friess). The proceeding within the PSG meeting was as follows: They were at first acquainted with the quantitative and qualitative evaluation process. It was agreed that PEC members had to be given the opportunity to fully follow the presentations of the WP leaders and presenters, in order to allow for questions, suggestions or rebuttal if needed. This process allowed the PEC members also to fill in the qualitative evaluation forms.

All received quantitative and qualitative evaluation reports are included in the annexed final evaluation [WP3.11]. It names the outputs and the PEC members as well as APs and CPs involved in this evaluation process. It includes the evaluation time table and the CVs of the participating evaluators.

The main problem encountered during the evaluation of the EPHECT was that several and significant deliverables and milestones could not be delivered as planned and as in accordance with the initially proposed EPHECT time table. Some of the deliverables and milestones envisaged in the initial time table of the project were reported in more reports than planned, or were delayed. Especially the deliverables and milestones of WP7 were affected as these depended highly on the input generated by preceding WPs (see Table 2 .for details). This problem was solved by several additional and informal meetings organised by the project coordination and by an amendment to request a time extension.

As for measures and guidance of project activities, the set-up of a quantitative and qualitative evaluation system, based on quantitative input by WP leaders and qualitative review by internal as well as external review partners (with both being independent), is a feasible and valid tool for the evaluation of a project. These critical evaluations and reviews of reports were considered as a clear added value for outcomes such as the BUMAC database (WP4), the survey protocol and translation for emission testing and exposure assessment (WP5), reports on product emission testing, guidance on emission testing as well as secondary reaction (WP6), the reports on the health risk assessment and home ventilation in European countries (WP7) and finally the overview on risk reduction policies (WP8). There are several scientific publications still in planning and are to be released by beginning of 2014.

It is further important to get evaluators actively involved in the project by inviting them to steering meetings and giving them the opportunity to communicate with lead scientists directly (it would not be same, if an involvement is just by phone, e-mail, etc., rather than by personal meeting). However, it should also be noted that difficulties were experienced when asking potential

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reviewers to go through to large documents being produced as outputs by complex and large work packages. This may require time for a review to be produced (which can take several month).

Objective 1: BUMAC database on state of the art emissions and health endpoints.

Process indicators Output Indicators Outcome indicators

1 Supply to BUMAC database Information on composition, emission, exposure, health risk and health end points

Data gaps to be further focussed on the hand of a literature review and selection of 15 relevant products. Achieved 100%

Objective 2: Assessing indoor use and use patterns of consumer products in EU member states.

Process indicators Output Indicators Outcome indicators

1 A survey to assess the European use and use patterns

Knowing the use and use patterns of household products. Knowing products by names.

See survey results of WP5. A list of 15 products for quantification, emission testing and health risk assessment. Achieved 100%

Objective 3: Quantification of product emissions

Process indicators Output Indicators Outcome indicators

1 Identification of key pollutants in 15 products

Findings from BUMAC database and literature review

A number of about 30 key pollutants

Achieved 100%

2 Emission testing of 15 products

Chamber experiments and simulations Generated data being compiled and filled into the BUMAC database

Achieved 100%

Objective 4: Health risk assessment upon exposure on used consumer products

Process indicators Output Indicators Outcome indicators

1 Quantification and emission data available for IAQ modelling

A study of the health effects of key pollutants and a risk assessment for relatable consumer products

Generated data to identify research gaps concerning the household use 15 consumer products. Inclusion of these data in the BUMAC database.

Achieved 100%

Objective 5: Guidance for risk management and policy options

Process indicators Output indicators Outcome indicators

1 Research of existing policies in EU member states

A review on policies in the EU regarding health risk of consumer products

A guidance and recommendation for policy makers based on the findings made upon health risk assessment

Achieved 100%

2 Stakeholder and policy makers involvement

- A workshop with invited stakeholders and policy makers.

Achieved 100%

List of deliverable(s) linked to this work package Deliverable

Title

3 Project evaluation documents

D3.1 Evaluation Plan

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D.2 Evaluation report

Milestones reached by this WP

Milestone title Month of achievement

1 Evaluation plan Nov/10

2 Continuous assessment of the project's technical and scientific progress and of the project specific objectives Aug/13

3 Proposal for measures and guidance of project activities and results (M12, M24, M36) Sept/13

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Specific Work packages Work package title:

Database on the state-of-the-art of emissions and health end points from consumer products Work package Number: 4 Work package Leader: UOWM Number of associated partners involved: 5 Number of person/ days of this work package: 779 Total budget of this work package: € 188.547 Starting Date - Ending date: 01/06/2010 – 30/09/2013 Description of the work package This WP was mainly targeted to the creation of an emission database, the BUMAC database. This database was formed for the inclusion of emission data from the selected consumer products studied in EPHECT, after their selection with the marking and the verification set in the WP4 “Literature Review on Literature review on, product composition, emitted compounds and emissions rates and health end points from consumer products” [WP4.2].The WP4 report is an extended review aiming to the formulation of an inventory of the necessary scientific basis on the main consumer product categories, needed to make an estimate of the exposure risks for the consumer resulting from the (household) use of the products.

The database includes information from five different list categories: List 1 includes papers & proceedings, list 2 policy makers, list 3 concerns RTD organisations, testing labs, product label schemes and sector organisations, while list 4 involves producers of products & users and finally list 5 sources are websites, other databases and books. An umbrella document was formulated, “Strategy for data collection on product emissions” [WP4.1] describing the strategy that was followed in order to request and collect data from relevant stakeholders. This document also covers communication issues as well as practical aspects of the approach and the support of the communication between the EPHECT team and the sources to be contacted. After identifying the most relevant stakeholders for data request, the EPHECT protocol for data collection letter was sent to each stakeholder, asking for their contribution with relevant data, under the terms and conditions described on the protocol. Unfortunately, the response of the stakeholders was not satisfactory.

The specific objective of the BUMAC database is the creation of a database on the state-of-the-art of emissions and health end points from consumer products. The primary purposes of the database development were to:

- Create an overview of the available consumer products emission data.

- Create an overview of the existing data gaps.

The BUMAC database development was based on the BUMA database and the BUMAC interface was inspired by the BUMA database from the BUMA Project (http://www.uowm.gr/bumaproject/). These two databases use almost the same format logic and were created in order to be able to be combined into a larger Building Material and Consumer Product Database.

The BUMAC database was set-up as a compilation of data on the current state-of-the-art on consumer product compositions and emissions, on test chamber experimental results, exposures, risks and health end points. Qualitative data were assured by using only data outcomes from procedures derived from standardized emission test protocols. The key indoor air pollutants and emerging pollutants studied constitute of (1) compounds prioritized by relevant international concerted actions or international organizations, such as INDEX, BUMA and WHO and (2) compounds reported in open literature as (potential) hazardous and occurring in this type of consumer products. They include gaseous and particulate matter emissions, secondary reactions and degradations of coated surfaces. The database allowed a clear view on current research gaps. The application of the six (6) following pre-defined verification criteria on the listed products in BUMAC allowed the selection of fifteen (15) relevant consumer product classes for further research.

The studied in EPHECT product should:

1. be used in households;

2. cause an exposure related to the use or the use scenario;

3. emit key or emerging pollutants;

4. characterised by a considerable indicative EU household use frequency;

5. mainly cause inhalation exposure and

6. may cause (debate about) a health end point.

BUMAC classifies, organizes and presents in a user-friendly and comprehensive way, the emission data from commonly used consumer products and their emitted compounds. The BUMAC database is continuously updated with emission data from studies carried out by certificated institutions as well as in peer reviewed literature focusing more on data for health relevant compounds. The database also includes data from emission studies which were carried out in the frame of EPHECT on 15 selected consumer product classes that were selected for further research in EPHECT by applying the aforementioned six criteria.

BUMAC is intended to be an important instrument utilized by the stakeholders, such as consumers, policy makers, health professionals, building occupants and/or owners, industry and building professionals in order to:

- be informed on the state of the art concerning emission data for building materials and consumer products

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- be able to compare the emissions of a new material/ product with the state of the art.

A webpage was added to the project website www.ephect.eu in order to present BUMAC to potential users. A Users’ Manual for the BUMAC database can be downloaded on the site [WP4.3].

Use of resources

During the last amendment Dr Krystallia Kalimeri, whose monthly rate is higher than originally estimated in the contract, was added to the UOWM personnel. As a result the total man months for UOWM in WP4 were reduced. This had no impact in the implementation of the work.

Specific objectives of this WP

Title 1 To create a database on the state-of-the-art of emissions and health end points from

consumer products

List of deliverable(s) linked to this work package Deliverable

Title

4 Selection of emitting and health relevant products, based on a database on indoor emissions from consumer products:

D4.1 Literature Strategy (D4.1)

D4.2 EPHECT Literature Review (D4.2)

D4.3 BUMAC Database Users’ Manual (D4.3)

D4.4 BUMAC database (www.ephect.eu)

Milestones reached by this WP

Milestone title Month of achievement

1 Completion of the BUMAC database and selection of 15 consumer product classes for further research, applying selection criteria

Oct/10

2 Identification and compilation of emitted compounds, product composition, SER's and health end points from consumer products

Sept/13

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Work package title:

Indoor use and use pattern of consumer products in EU Member States Work package Number: 5 Work package Leader: IPSOS Number of associated partners involved: 4 Number of person/ days of this work package: 258 Total budget of this work package: € 155.110 Starting Date - Ending date: 01/06/2010 – 01/03/2012 Description of the work package The tasks carried out as part of this WP had the main objective of creating and inventory of information on consumption and use habits of the 15 EPHECT selected product classes across the EU. Prior to the survey, a market survey protocol as well as a questionnaire was formulated [WP5.1a and WP5.1b]. In this scope, a survey was carried out in 10 European Countries across four European Regions: Northern Europe (Sweden, Denmark), Western Europe (Germany, France, UK), Southern Europe (Italy, Spain), Eastern Europe (Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, in order to obtain a representative dataset for the EU.

A total of 4335 interviews were carried out across the 10 countries (at least 300 interviews per country), in the objective of collecting information on use and use patterns for each of the selected product classes. A survey questionnaire was designed, in accordance with the survey objectives. Prior to designing the questionnaire, desk research was conducted in each of the selected countries. This desk research aimed at inventorying available brands and products types on the market in the different countries included in this study.

The survey results, as well as the methodological approach, are described in detail in the deliverable D5.2: EPHECT Survey report: Indoor Use and Use Patterns of Consumer Products [WP5.2].

The following actions were undertaken:

- country selection

- literature review and desk research

- designing the survey questionnaire

- translating the survey questionnaire towards the languages of the countries where the survey was to take place

- programming the questionnaire

- conducting fieldwork in 10 selected countries

- analysing the survey results

- writing the survey report

The outcomes of the survey were used as input for simulations and emission testing.

The following institutes were involved:

VITO – Supplying Ipsos with information on different aspects of the survey set up. This involved, on one hand, providing feedback on the survey objectives, methodology and country selection, as well as reviewing the questionnaire and providing information on the variables to be used in the survey.

UOWM – providing feedback on the survey protocol and questionnaire designed by Ipsos, and making recommendations on the variables to be measured, list of brands/products as well as output data were provided. Furthermore, UOWM evaluated the use of the questions included in the questionnaire, made some recommendations on building characteristics and ventilation side, so that the questionnaire survey would eventually provide the information needed for modelling purposes in WP7.

ANSES - The primary purpose of testing of emissions of chemicals from consumer products is to assess the potential exposure of people to chemicals contained in the product. For an accurate measure of these potential, test conditions have to be clearly defined. Therefore, an inventory of parameters that determined the emission test conditions was performed based on bibliographical references list established by EPHECT team [WP5.3].

IPSOS – conducting the market study on the indoor uses and use patterns of 15 consumer product classes in the EU. This involved reviewing relevant literature and similar studies, defining the survey objectives and methodology, selecting the countries where the survey was to take place. Ipsos activities were: designing the survey questionnaire, translating it towards the languages of the countries where the survey took place, carrying out the fieldwork, analysing the data and providing the survey report.

Use of resources

More resources (man days) were used then initially foreseen. This was, on the one hand, due to the survey complexity and questionnaire length, and on the other hand, due to the fact that, prior to the questionnaire design, a desk research step was carried out (additionally to the foreseen activities), identifying brands and variations of products in each of the 10 surveyed countries.

Specific objectives of this WP

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Title 2 Selection of emitting and health relevant products, based on a database on indoor emissions

from consumer products

List of deliverable(s) linked to this work package Deliverable

Title

Report on the use, use pattern and habits at EU level for the selected consumer product classes

D 5.1 Market survey protocol and Questionnaire

D 5.2 Survey Report - Indoor Use and Use Patterns of Consumer Products

D 5.3 Review on emission testing of consumer products

Milestones reached by this WP

Milestone title Month of achievement

1 A survey protocol and implementation strategy for a survey on use and use patterns of the selected product classes in a representative EU population nov/10

2 Identification of UE use and use patterns of the 15 product classes, data management and data translation for emission testing and exposue assessment feb/12

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Work package title:

Quantification of product emissions by laboratory testing Work package Number: 6 Work package Leader: NRCWE Number of associated partners involved: 5 Number of person/ days of this work package: 785 Total budget of this work package: € 360.054 Starting Date - Ending date: 01/11/2010 – 30/09/2013 Description of the work package Consumer product testing experiments were preceded by the development of an integrated EPHECT test protocol “D6.2 Quantification of product emissions by laboratory testing. Part I: Consumer product test protocol” [WP6.2]. This protocol includes an identification of EPHECT key and emerging pollutants, and analytical methods and techniques. It describes an ‘Umbrella for consumer product testing’ that aims at a harmonized approach for consumer product testing in test chambers of different dimensions. The strategy for consumer product (brand) selection as well as a harmonization of laboratory performance (QA/QC) by round robin testing for analytical methods and techniques applied in EPHECT is described. A number of additional testing has been repeated for the reconfirmation of critical key pollutants.

An EPHECT ‘Datasheet’ template for reporting the outcomes of consumer product testing was designed. The emission data of the 25 tested consumer products in EPHECT is included in the “Database on laboratory testing of 25 consumer products” [WP6.1] .This .ZIP folder was shared between AP using the www.ephect.eu website during the course of the contract. After the EPHECT contract time, the emission data can be downloaded from the BUMAC database (www.ephect.eu) to be used by professionals.

Experimental details on consumer product testing in EPHECT and outcomes of QA/QC are reported in Quantification of product emissions by laboratory testing. Part II Results of product testing experiments [WP6.3]. Report also includes a description and reporting of an additional and extensive intercomparison exercises of 3 selected products (one kitchen cleaning agent, one electrical air freshener, one perfume) in 4 test chambers of different dimensions, that has been carried in an initial and a final phase. In part, these experiences form the basis of the guidance document D6.4. This intercomparison exercise resulted in two additional meetings to discuss outcomes and test strategies.

Further processing of the EPHECT intercomparison data, incorporating modelling of data have led to the formulation of the report “Guidance on product emissions by laboratory testing: The EPHECT Experience” [WP6.4], which is a valuable tool for future consumer product emission testing harmonisation.

Transformation reactions have been explored for 3 products (one kitchen cleaning agent, one plug-in air freshener and one passive air freshener). The outcomes of these experiments have been reported in the deliverable “Quantification of product emissions from transformation reactions with terpene chemistry in a test chamber, simulating exposures from a kitchen cleaning agent, a passive air freshener, and a plug-in air freshener” [WP6.5]. This report represents experiences from a substantial number of additional experiments supported by the OFFICAIR project.

WP6 has achieved successfully all tasks 100 %.

AP TUM doesn’t possess any emission test chambers and could therefore not contribute to the product emission testing in the work package. An additional meeting was organised, following PSG 3, to re-define the contribution of TUM to WP6, taking into account available laboratory techniques and methods of this laboratory. It was agreed that TUM focuses on studies of consumer product composition, complemented with a study on ingredient lists and MS-DS information.

Specific objectives of this WP

Title 3 To quantify product emissions by laboratory testing

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List of deliverable(s) linked to this work package Deliverable

Title

6 Study of research gaps on chemical and particulate emissions, associated to household uses of the consumer products

D6.1 Database on laboratory testing of 25 consumer products

D6.2 Quantification of product emissions by laboratory testing. Part I: Consumer product test protocol (Jan 2012)

D6.3 Quantification of product emissions by laboratory testing. Part II Results of product testing experiments (April 2013)

D6.4 Guidance on product emissions by laboratory testing (Sept 2013)

7 Quantification of product emissions from transformation reactions with terpene chemistry in a test chamber, simulating exposures from a kitchen cleaning agent, a passive air freshener, and a plug-in air freshener

Milestones reached by this WP

Milestone title Month of achievement

1 Definition of research gaps for testing: selection of 15 product classes and products, selection of key and emerging pollutants, simulation of use Jul/11

2 Quantification of key and emerging pollutants of health concern, emitted by consumer products in test chamber experiments simulating exposure Feb/12

3 Quantification of product emissions from transformation reactions with terpene chemistry in test chamber experiments simulating exposure Sept/13

4 Guidance for emission testing Sept/13

5 Update of the DB with newly generated data Apr/13

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Work package title:

Exposure and health risk assessment Work package Number: 7 Work package Leader: UMil Number of associated partners involved: 3 Number of person/ days of this work package: 1.055 Total budget of this work package: € 194.474 Starting Date - Ending date: 01/11/2010 – 30/09/2013 Description of the work package Under WP7, irritative and respiratory health effects were assessed in relation to acute and long-term exposure to key and emerging indoor air pollutants, which are emitted during household use of selected consumer products. In this context, a detailed health risk assessment was carried out for five ‘target’ compounds of respiratory health relevance, namely acrolein, formaldehyde, naphthalene, d-limonene and α-pinene, selected on the basis of a literature review, evaluation of toxicological information and occurrence in experimental product testing outcomes. Initially, for each ‘target’ compound, health-based limits of exposure were derived/selected for the purposes of the project following assessment of toxicological data available from short and long-term inhalation exposure studies. Further, a methodology was developed to construct scenarios for the use of consumer products by two ‘target’ population groups (housewives and retired people) in the four geographical areas of Europe (North, West, South, East), based on the analysis of the Household Survey data (WP5) regarding the use of fifteen consumer product classes in the EU. Micro-environmental modelling was performed in order to estimate indoor air concentrations in each microenvironment resulting from single product use (Level 1). Then, results of micro-environmental modelling were combined with daily population home activity profiles, which were constructed based on assumptions, given the lack of available data. The aim was to provide estimates of exposure to each compound as the population group is assumed to move across home microenvironments and as a result of multiple product use (Level 2). Moreover, sensitivity analysis was conducted in terms of internal dispersion and indoor chemistry (Level 3). Finally, for the risk characterisation step of the health risk assessment procedure the outcome of Level 1 and 2 was compared to the health-based exposure limits corresponding to the five ‘target’ compounds, and expressed as percentage (%) of the exposure limit. The outcomes are reported in the deliverable “Report on the health risk associated with emissions from household use of selected consumer products” D8.2 [WP7.3].

In addition, two other deliverables were produced:

(i) Ventilation review (D8.1): [Dimitroulopoulou, C. (2012) Ventilation in European dwellings: A review. Building and environment; 47: 109-125], [WP7.1 and WP7.2] and

(ii) (D9 report: “Existing European health risk reduction options associated with consumer product emissions”. [WP7.4]

Overall, the work performed under WP7 was conducted efficiently and the following main critical objectives were accomplished:

(i) health risks of respiratory relevance from ‘target’ key and emerging indoor air pollutants emitted during household use of selected consumer products were assessed according to a proposed exposure and health risk assessment methodology,

(ii) the BUMAC database on consumer product emissions was updated with toxicological information, and

(iii) the outcome of health risk assessment formed a basis for the development of risk management guidance and formulation of policy options to reduce risk associated to the indoor use of consumer products under WP8.

Not significative deviations on the use of resources and person months per work package in respect to the planning are to be underlined.

Specific objectives of this WP

Title 4 To perform exposure and health risk assessment, on the use of consumer products

List of deliverable(s) linked to this work package Deliverable

Title

8 Report on the health risk associated with emissions from household use of selected consumer products

D8.1 Ventilation Review

D8.2 Report on the health risk associated with emissions from household use of

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selected consumer products

9 Overview on existing European health risk reduction options

D9 Existing European health risk reduction options, associated with consumer product emissions

Milestones reached by this WP

Milestone title Month of achievement

1 Report on home ventilation in European Countries (Month 7) Jan/11

2 Update of BUMAC on 15 consumer products with a review on health effects of exposure to key and emerging indoor air pollutants May/11

3 Updated IAQ model (Month 18) May/12

4 Input from WP5 / M2 (use patterns) to exposure modelling (Month 21) Apr/12

5 End of airflow modelling (Month 24) May/12

6 End of Input from WP6 / M3 (emissions) to indoor air quality modelling (Month 24) - Continuous interaction is needed throughout the emission testing

Aug/2013

7 Overview on existing European health risk reduction options (Month 30) Dec/12

8 Health risk assessment to key and emerging indoor air pollutants emitted by the consumer product classes; update of BUMAC (Month 30) Sept/2013

9 End of exposure modelling (Month 33) Sept/2013

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Work package title:

Risk management guidance and policy options Work package Number: 8 Work package Leader: IDMEC Number of associated partners involved: 3 Number of person/ days of this work package: 315 Total budget of this work package: € 64.979 Starting Date - Ending date: 01/12/2011 – 30/09/2013 Description of the work package

The Work package 8 had several objectives: to review the policies concerning indoor air releases from consumer products within Europe; to analyze the policy implications of the results of WP7, reviewing the exposure and health risk assessment in the updated BUMAC on consumer product classes; to involve the stakeholders in the discussion of policies and to listen their proposals; to develop a risk management guidance for consumer products; to elaborate recommendations for policy-makers and to prepare recommendations for consumers.

All the objectives were pursued with more or less success and the results were presented in DeliverableD10: “Report on Existing Policies, Risk Management Guidance and Recommendations for Policy makers”. The current policies related to indoor air emissions from the consumer products in EU MS were reviewed, and some proposals on exposure reduction strategies, for consumers, manufacturers as well as policy makers, were formulated.

In the review of policies, it was verified that most of existing EU policies on chemicals and consumer products (e.g. REACH, General Product Safety Directive, CLP/GHS, Biocidal Products Directive, Toys Safety Directive, Cosmetics Directive, etc.) imposed limits in terms of the content and never in terms of emission, which can be explained by the absence of specific standards. There is also an important lack on toxicological data. There is a wide quantity of ingredients that were not yet evaluated in terms of toxicology, and are in consequence not covered by the regulations. The new Consumer Product Safety Regulation and Market Surveillance Regulation launched in February 2013 and currently under discussion seem to be promising and some progress is expected.

At this stage, it was no possible to propose recommendations on limits of contaminants based on the results of the Project. But it was however possible to propose recommendations on the strategies used to develop new guidelines. In the last year of the project a Stakeholder Meeting took place in Brussels, on May 15th, in order to present the results of the project to stakeholders, and to listen their opinions in what regards actions to be taken. After a short discussion, a set of main conclusions could be retained as. It was clear that all participants identified the need of well defined procedures and a clear message from policies. In general, some words were common for all represented stakeholders: Harmonization and Simplification.

The report [WP8.1] focuses also in the risk management guidance in using consumer products, and some possible recommendations to policy-makers and consumers. The basis of the recommendations were in the EC project EnVIE (Oliveira Fernandes et al., 2008), sponsored by the DG Research that defines two main principles or lines for action: the first strategy to manage the IAQ is the ‘source control’ strategy, meaning that what is not emitted or diluted indoors does not affect the IAQ status; the second and, in fact, the ultimate strategy is ventilation as an ‘exposure control’ strategy and not as a panacea for every IAQ problem.

The source control is in the hands of the manufacturers and policy makers that can force to decrease the contaminants present in the consumer products. The control exposure can be obtained by the restriction of the time spent in a particular contaminated space and, as the ultimate solution, the dilution with increased ventilation, which can be implemented by the consumer. Some recommendations under this context were presented in Part II of the report.

As a conclusion, regulation is the most powerful tool to force people to create a good indoor air quality (Bluyssen, 2010). In what regards Consumer Products, at this stage there is yet a need of many research work in order to provide secure foundations for prepare an objective regulation. However, Policy Makers should provide the actors with the instruments necessary to increase the knowledge. It is essential to support research and technical work, as CEN in the areas of Methods of Testing, and Risk Assessment.

Specific objectives of this WP

Title 5 To formulate guidance for risk management and policy options

List of deliverable(s) linked to this work package

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Deliverable

Title

10 Overview on risk reduction policies

D10 Report on existing policies, risk management guidance and recommendations for policy makers

Milestones reached by this WP

Milestone title Month of achievement

1 Overview of current product policies in EU and selected countries worldwide

may/12

2 Consultation of stakeholders May/13

Formulation of proposals for risk management guidance for users Jun/13

Priority ranking of recommendations for policy options Aug/13

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SECTION VII ANNEXES Annexes organised following the contractual Annex I structure. Including for example: WP 1 Management plan Agenda and Minutes of Steering committee and General project meetings Workpackage meeting’s agenda and minutes WP 2 Dissemination plan Leaflet/brochure/Newsletter project Posters Presentations Press releases WP 3 - TUM Evaluation plan Tools for process evaluation Evaluation reports WP 4 to WP (…) The deliverables should be ordered following the deliverable table and presented as pdf files to be uploaded on the EAHC database Deliverables: Study protocol Survey tools Questionnaires Training activities: curricula, programmes and materials Guide/guidelines/recommendations Tool kits Databases Best practice definition and reports Meetings: agenda, presentations, reports/minutes and attendance lists Conferences, national events and stakeholders meetings Scientific reports and publications Any other result achieved Publication list produced during the reporting period. Please include copies of the articles as pdf files. Graphs, tables, figures and other illustrations (when appropriate), in case of photographs, please request the authorisation to be published in the project and EAHC website and database Don’t forget to annex copies of any publications, products or other relevant outputs or deliverables of the project as well as the administrative annexes such as minutes of meetings, attendance lists etc