Measurements and analysis of Non-Methane VOC (NMVOC) emissions from major domestic aerosol sprays at “source”

Nourian, A; Abba, MK; Nasr, GG

Abstract

Non-Methane Volatile Organic Compounds (NMVOCs) from domestic aerosol sprays are
emerging pollutants and have substantial negative effects on human health and the
environment. This study, for the first time, carried out quantification of the NMVOC emissions
from off-the-shelf domestic aerosol sprays, at “source” in the UK. These aerosol sprays
contain harmful organic compounds as propellants and products. The results showed that the
cosmetic category (i.e. body sprays) have higher concentrations of NMVOCs with 93.7 wt.%
per can compared to households (i.e. air fresheners) with 62 wt.%. Also, water-based
products showed less NMVOCs in all analyses compared to solvent-based formulations. Direct
replacement of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) propellants from conventional products with
‘clean air’ (i.e. nitrogen) showed the potential emission reduction of 50%. Hair spray products,
however, have the highest ozone forming potential with about 105.1 g of Ozone per litre of
the product compared to other domestic aerosol sprays. The level of global warming
contribution of the selected aerosol sprays in the UK was measured to be 129.8 ktCO2e in
2018 and globally, this can be projected to be 3154.6 ktCO2e in 2020. Furthermore, NMVOC
emissions contribution from the domestic aerosol sprays in the UK was measured as 61.2 kt
in 2018 based on annual consumption of 520 million cans. Globally this can equate to 1437.6
kt based on the projected usage of 17.5 billion cans. Therefore, it is vital to expedite replacing
LPG propellant with nitrogen in a drive for a ‘near-zero’ emission in aerosol industry. The
results presented in this study can also be used to steer policy makers to the potentially
brewing danger from an otherwise passive emission source.

Citation

Nourian, A., Abba, M., & Nasr, G. (2021). Measurements and analysis of Non-Methane VOC (NMVOC) emissions from major domestic aerosol sprays at “source”. Environment International, 146, 106152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.106152

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 17, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Nov 25, 2020
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2021
• Deposit Date: Sep 22, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 26, 2020
• Journal: Environment International
• Print ISSN: 0160-4120
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Volume: 146
• Pages: 106152
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.106152
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.106152
• Related Public URLs: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/environment-international/