TABLE OF CONTENTS 

10. CONSUMER PRODUCTS ............................................... 10-1

10.1 BACKGROUND ............................................... 10-1

10.2 CONSUMER PRODUCTS USE STUDIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1

10.3 RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................... 10-2

10.4 REFERENCES FOR CHAPTER 10 ................................ 10-3
LIST OF TABLES

Table 10-1. Consumer Products Commonly Found in Some U.S. Households a . . . . . . . . . . 10-4

Table 10-2. Number of Minutes Spent in Activities Working with or Near Household Cleaning

Table 10-5. Number of Respondents Indicating that Pesticides Were Applied by a Professional

Table 10-6. Number of Respondents Reporting Pesticides Applied by the Consumer at Home To

Agents Such as Scouring Powders or Ammonia (minutes/day) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-7

Table 10-3. Number of Minutes Spent Using Any Microwave Oven (minutes/day) . . . . . . . 10-7

Table 10-4. Number of Respondents Using a Humidifier at Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-8

at Home to Eradicate Insects, Rodents, or Other Pests at Specified Frequencies . . . . 10-9

Eradicate Insects, Rodents, or Other Pests at Specified Frequencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-9
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10. CONSUMER PRODUCTS

10.1 BACKGROUND 

Consumer products may contain toxic or potentially toxic chemical constituents to which 

children may be exposed as a result of their use. For example, household cleaners can contain 

ammonia, alcohols, acids and organic solvents which may have health concerns. Potential 

pathways of exposure to consumer products or chemicals released from consumer products 

during use include ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact. 

This chapter presents information on the amount of product used, frequency of use, and 

duration of use for various consumer products typically found in households. There are limited 

data available on consumer product use for the general population and especially for children. 

Children can be in environments where adults use household consumer products such as 

cleaners, solvents, and paints. As such, children can be passively exposed to chemicals in these 

products. Table 10-1 provides a list of household consumer products that are commonly found 

in some U.S. households (U.S. EPA, 1987). It should be noted that these are 1987 data and 

current consumer use of some products listed may have changed (e.g., aerosol product use has 

declined). The studies presented in the following sections represent readily available surveys for 

which data were collected on the frequency and duration of use and amount of use of cleaning 

products, painting products, household solvent products, cosmetic and other personal care 

products, household equipment, pesticides, and tobacco. The reader is referred to the Exposure 

Factors Handbook (U.S. EPA, 1997) for a more detailed presentation for use of consumer 

products for the general population. 

10.2 CONSUMER PRODUCTS USE STUDIES 

National Human Activity Pattern Survey (NHAPS). The U.S. EPA collected 

information for the general population on the duration and frequency of selected activities and 

the time spent in selected microenvironments via 24-hour diaries. Over 9000 individuals from 

all age groups in 48 contiguous states participated in NHAPS. The survey was conducted 

between October 1992 and September 1994. Individuals were interviewed to categorize their 

24-hour routines (diaries) and/or answer follow-up exposure questions that were related to 

exposure events. Demographic data, including socioeconomic (gender, age, race, education, 

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etc.), geographic (census region, state, etc.), and temporal (day of week, month, season) data 

were included in the study (Tsang and Klepeis, 1996). Data were collected for a maximum of 82 

possible microenvironments and 91 different activities. 

As part of the survey, data were also collected on duration and frequency of use of 

selected consumer products. Because the age categories used by the study authors do not 

coincide with the standardized age categories used in this Handbook, the source data from 

NHAPS were re-analyzed by EPA to generate data for the standardized age categories. These 

data are presented in Tables 10-2 through 10-6 for age groups less than 1 year, 1 year, 2 years, 3 

to <6 years, 6 to <11 years, 11 to <16 years, and 16 to <21 years. Data for subsets of the first 

year of life (e.g., 1 to 2 months, 3 to 5 months, etc.) are not available. Distribution data are 

presented for selected percentiles (where possible). Other data are presented in ranges of time 

spent in an activity (e.g., working with or near a product being used) or ranges for the number of 

times an activity involving a consumer product was performed. Total N denotes the number of 

respondents for that specific activity category. 

As discussed in previous chapters of this Handbook that used NHAPS as a data source, 

the primary advantage of NHAPS is that the data were collected for a large number of 

individuals and the survey was designed to be representative of the U.S. general population. 

However, due to the wording of questions in the survey, precise data are not available for 

consumers who spent more than 60, 120, 180, or 240 minutes (depending on the activity) using 

some consumer products. This prevents accurate characterization of the high range of the 

distribution and may also introduce error into the calculation of the mean. 

10.3 RECOMMENDATIONS 

Due to the large range and variation among consumer products and their exposure 

pathways, it is not feasible to specify recommended exposure values as had been done in other 

chapters of this handbook. The user is referred to the contents/references of this chapter and 

Chapter 16 of the Exposure Factors Handbook to derive appropriate exposure factors. 

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10.4 REFERENCES FOR CHAPTER 10 

Tsang, A.M.; Klepeis, N.E. (1996) Results tables from a detailed analysis of the National Human Activity Pattern 

Survey (NHAPS) response. Draft Report prepared for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by 

Lockheed Martin, Contract No. 68-W6-001, Delivery Order No. 13. 

U.S. EPA (1987). Methods for assessing exposure to chemical substances - Volume 7 - Methods for assessing 

consumer exposure to chemical substances. Washington, DC: Office of Toxic Substances. EPA/560/5­

85/007. 

U.S. EPA (1997). Exposure Factors Handbook, National Center for Environmental Assessment, Office of Research 

and Development, Washington, DC. EPA/600/P-95/002FC. 

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Table 10-1. Consumer Products Commonly Found in Some U.S. Householdsa 

Consumer Product Category Consumer Product 

Cosmetics Hygiene Products Adhesive bandages 

Bath additives (liquid) 

Bath additives (powder) 

Cologne/perfume/aftershave 

Contact lens solutions 

Deodorant/antiperspirant (aerosol) 

Deodorant/antiperspirant (wax and liquid) 

Depilatories 

Facial makeup 

Fingernail cosmetics 

Hair coloring/tinting products 

Hair conditioning products 

Hairsprays (aerosol) 

Lip products 

Mouthwash/breath freshener 

Sanitary napkins and pads 

Shampoo 

Shaving creams (aerosols) 

Skin creams (non-drug) 

Skin oils (non-drug) 

Soap (toilet bar) 

Sunscreen/suntan products 

Talc/body powder (non-drug) 

Toothpaste 

Waterless skin cleaners 

Household Furnishings Carpeting 

Draperies/curtains 

Rugs (area) 

Shower curtains 

Vinyl upholstery, furniture 

Garment Conditioning Products Anti-static spray (aerosol) 

Leather treatment (liquid and wax) 

Shoe polish 

Spray starch (aerosol) 

Suede cleaner/polish (liquid and aerosol) 

Textile water-proofing (aerosol) 

Household Maintenance Products Adhesive (general) (liquid) 

Bleach (household) (liquid) 

Bleach (see laundry) 

Candles 

Cat box litter 

Charcoal briquets 

Charcoal lighter fluid 

Drain cleaner (liquid and powder) 

Dishwasher detergent (powder) 

Dishwashing liquid 

Fabric dye (DIY)b 

Fabric rinse/softener (liquid) 

10-4
a Table 10-1. Consumer Products Commonly Found in Some U.S. Households (continued)

Consumer Product Category Consumer Product 

Household Maintenance Products 

(continued) 

Fabric rinse/softener (powder) 

Fertilizer (garden) (liquid) 

Fertilizer (garden) (powder) 

Fire extinguishers (aerosol) 

Floor polish/wax (liquid) 

Food packaging and packaged food 

Furniture polish (liquid) 

Furniture polish (aerosol) 

General cleaner/disinfectant (liquid) 

General cleaner (powder) 

General cleaner/disinfectant (aerosol and pump) 

General spot/stain remover (liquid) 

General spot/stain remover (aerosol and pump) 

Herbicide (garden-patio) (Liquid and aerosol) 

Insecticide (home and garden) (powder) 

Insecticide (home and garden) (aerosol and pump) 

Insect repellent (liquid and aerosol) 

Laundry detergent/bleach (liquid) 

Laundry detergent (powder) 

Laundry pre-wash/soak (powder) 

Laundry pre-wash/soak (liquid) 

Laundry pre-wash/soak (aerosol and pump) 

Lubricant oil (liquid) 

Lubricant (aerosol) 

Matches 

Metal polish 

Oven cleaner (aerosol) 

Pesticide (home) (solid) 

Pesticide (pet dip) (liquid) 

Pesticide (pet) (powder) 

Pesticide (pet) (aerosol) 

Pesticide (pet) (collar) 

Petroleum fuels (home( (liquid and aerosol) 

Rug cleaner/shampoo (liquid and aerosol) 

Rug deodorizer/freshener (powder) 

Room deodorizer (solid) 

Room deodorizer (aerosol) 

Scouring pad 

Toilet bowl cleaner 

Toiler bowl deodorant (solid) 

Water-treating chemicals (swimming pools) 

Home Building/Improvement Products (DIY) b Adhesives, specialty (liquid) 

Ceiling tile 

Caulks/sealers/fillers 

Dry wall/wall board 

Flooring (vinyl) 

House Paint (interior) (liquid) 

House Paint and Stain (exterior) (liquid) 

Insulation (solid) 

Insulation (foam) 

10-5
a Table 10-1. Consumer Products Commonly Found in Some U.S. Households (continued)

Consumer Product Category Consumer Product 

Home Building/Improvement Products (DIY)b

 (Continued) 

Paint/varnish removers 

Paint thinner/brush cleaners 

Patching/ceiling plaster 

Roofing 

Refinishing products (polyurethane, varnishes, etc.) 

Spray paints (home) (aerosol) 

Wall paneling 

Wall paper 

Wall paper glue 

Automobile-related Products Antifreeze 

Car polish/wax 

Fuel/lubricant additives 

Gasoline/diesel fuel 

Interior upholstery/components, synthetic 

Motor oil 

Radiator flush/cleaner 

Automotive touch-up paint (aerosol) 

Windshield washer solvents 

Personal Materials Clothes/shoes 

Diapers/vinyl pants 

Jewelry 

Printed material (colorprint, newsprint, photographs) 

Sheets/towels 

Toys (intended to be placed in mouths) 

a A subjective listing based on consumer use profiles. b DIY = Do It Yourself. 

Source: U.S. EPA, 1987. 

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Table 10-2. Number of Minutes Spent in Activities Working with or Near Household Cleaning Agents Such as 

Scouring Powders or Ammonia (minutes/day) 

Age Na Min 

Percentilesb 

Max 

1 2 5 10 25 50 75 90 95 98 99 

Time spent in Activities Working with or Near Household Cleaning

 Agents Such as Scouring Powders or Ammonia (minutes/day) 

0 to <1 2 0 - - - - - - - - - - - 10 

1to < 2 6 5 - - - - - - - - - - - 121 

2 to <3 5 10 - - - - - - - - - - - 30 

3 to <6 11 0 0 0 0 0 3 5 20 20 25 28 29 30 

6 to <11 21 1 1 1 2 2 3 5 10 20 20 26 28 30 

11 to <16 34 0 0 0 1 1 2 5 15 37 60 60 60 60 

16 to <21 41 0 0 0 0 0 3 7 15 30 60 132 156 180

a N = doer sample size b

 Percentiles are the percentage of doers below or equal to a given number of minutes; percentiles were not calculated where N <10. 

Source: EPA Analysis of source data used by Tsang and Klepeis (1996) (NHAPS database) 

Table 10-3. Number of Minutes Spent Using Any Microwave Oven (minutes/day) 

Age Na Min 

Percentilesb 

Max 

1 2 5 10 25 50 75 90 95 98 99 

Time spent using any microwave oven (minutes/day) 

0 to <1 0 - - - - - - - - - - - - -

1to < 2 0 - - - - - - - - - - - - -

2 to <3 0 - - - - - - - - - - - - -

3 to <6 1 1 - - - - - - - - - - - 1 

6 to <11 54 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 5 10 15 20 25 30 

11 to <16 110 0 0 0 0 1 2 3 5 11 18.3 30 30 60 

16 to <21 137 0 0 0 0 1 2 3 5 10 15 34 80 121

a N = doer sample size b

 Percentiles are the percentage of doers below or equal to a given number of minutes; percentiles were not calculated where N <10. 

Source: EPA Analysis of source data used by Tsang and Klepeis (1996) (NHAPS database) 

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Table 10-4. Number of Respondents Using a Humidifier at Home 

Age (years) 

Total N 

Frequency 

Almost 

Every 

Day 

3-5 Times a 

Week 

1-2 Times a 

Week 

1-2 Times a 

Month 

DK 

0 to <1 14 4 2 2 6 0 

1to <2 25 6 5 1 13 0 

2 to <3 30 10 5 1 14 0 

3 to <6 63 16 6 8 31 2 

6 to <11 64 15 8 6 33 2 

11 to <16 69 16 5 4 43 1 

16 to <21 51 17 9 5 20 0 

Note: DK= Don't Know; Refused = Respondent Refused to Answer; N = Number of Respondents 

Source: EPA Analysis of source data used by Tsang and Klepeis (1996) (NHAPS database) 

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Table 10-5. Number of Respondents Indicating that Pesticides Were Applied by a Professional at Home to Eradicate 

Insects, Rodents, or Other Pests at Specified Frequencies 

Frequency 

Age (years) 

Total N 

None 1 to 2 3 to 5 6 to 9 10+ DK 

0 to <1 15 9 4 1 1 0 0 

1to <2 23 13 5 3 1 1 0 

2 to <3 32 9 15 5 3 0 0 

3 to <6 80 51 22 5 2 0 0 

6 to <11 106 59 22 7 17 1 0 

11 to <16 115 68 35 4 6 0 2 

16 to <21 87 40 36 2 5 1 3 

Note: * = Missing Data; DK= Don't know; Refused = Respondent Refused to Answer; N = Number of Respondents 

Source: EPA Analysis of source data used by Tsang and Klepeis (1996) (NHAPS database) 

Table 10-6. Number of Respondents Reporting Pesticides Applied by the Consumer at Home To Eradicate Insects, 

Rodents, or Other Pests at Specified Frequencies 

Frequency 

Age (years) 

Total N 

None 1 to 2 3 to 5 6 to 9 10+ DK 

0 to <1 15 4 8 2 0 1 0 

1to <2 23 11 10 1 0 1 0 

2 to <3 32 18 9 2 2 1 0 

3 to <6 80 26 35 18 1 0 0 

6 to <11 106 37 49 14 1 4 1 

11 to <16 115 37 50 18 4 6 0 

16 to <21 87 36 33 9 4 4 1 

Note: * = Missing Data; DK= Don't know; Refused = Respondent Refused to Answer; N = Number of Respondents 

Source: EPA Analysis of source data used by Tsang and Klepeis (1996) (NHAPS database) 

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