ConsExpo web consumer exposure models - model documentation

The report ‘ConsExpo Web. Consumer exposure models – model documentation. Update for ConsExpo Web 1.0.2(PDF)' provides user guidance and background information on the ConsExpo Web tool.

ConsExpo Web provides a number of generally applicable exposure models and a database of exposure factors for a broad set of consumer products. Together, the models and the database provide the tools needed to assess exposure for a wide range of consumer products. Only basic additional information on product composition and the physicochemical properties of the substance under assessment are needed.

This report describes in detail how the ConsExpo Web tool is to be used to conduct consumer exposure assessments. It describes how to add multiple scenarios to an assessment, how to select models and how to specify model inputs. Different output measures and methods of evaluating and visualizing exposure are also discussed. A detailed description of the ConsExpo models is also provided. ConsExpo Web contains models to estimate exposure via inhalation, dermal contact and oral ingestion. The exposure models vary in complexity, from simple screening models to more advanced, physics-based models. Additionally, it is discussed how ConsExpo can be used to obtain insight into the factors affecting exposure to substances in consumer products by using the sensitivity analysis and probabilistic evaluation tools.

Spray model

A specific model for the inhalation route of exposure is the spray model in ConsExpo Web.

The spray model is a higher tiered model within ConsExpo Web that describes the exposure to formed non-volatile aerosols. The spray model is an important model since the number of consumer spray products on the market is increasing. Key features of the spray model are the possibility to assume a cloud volume, inclusion of gravitational setting of aerosols, inclusion of particle size distributions and mass generation rates for a number of consumer spray products based on experiments, and the inclusion of oral exposure following spraying.

In 2010, new defaults have been derived for the spray model. These new defaults replace the older values, which are mentioned in the product category fact sheets published till 2007.

Emission of chemicals from solid matrices

A detailed description of the emission model can be found in the report ‘Emission of Chemical Substances from Solid Matrices: A method for consumer exposure assessment.’(PDF)

ConsExpo Web export to Chesar - manual

ConsExpo is a recommended tool for higher tier assessments for consumer exposure under REACH. ConsExpo is one of the most used exposure estimation tools for consumer assessment in REACH registration dossiers. Chesar is a software tool developed by ECHA to support registrants in generating chemical safety reports in an efficient way and associate exposure scenarios for communication (to be annexed to the Safety Data Sheet). This manual describes step-by-how to generate an export file (Chesar XML file) in ConsExpo Web and how to import this file in Chesar.

ConsExpo Web batch assessment - manual

ConsExpo Web version 1.1.0 introduces a new feature to the ConsExpo software. The batch assessment uses the traditional assessments and scenarios, but combines that with the possibility of using multiple substances or subpopulations in one batch assessment. The batch assessment allows running multiple assessments to screen the exposure for a large number of substances in one or multiple products for one or multiple populations. Assessments of interest can be identified and scrutinized using the traditional approach under ConsExpo Web. As it concerns a new feature and workflow, a manual is drafted to guide the user.

Overarching issues – ConsExpo Web and fact sheets

In the ConsExpo2015 project, the product category Fact Sheets, dated from 2006, will be updated coming years. During the development of ConsExpo Web and the update of the Cleaning Products Fact Sheet several overarching issues were coming up that are also of relevance for other product category Fact Sheets. This resulted in many discussions, for example on the mass transfer coefficient, dilution and the spray model.

The outcome of the discussions is already implemented in the update of the Cleaning Products Fact Sheet (January 2018, Erratum October 2018), and will be implemented in other updates of Fact Sheets as well. As the update of all product category Fact Sheets may take several years, we decided to share information on the discussed topics. To this aim the document ‘Overarching issues – ConsExpo Web and fact sheets’ is drafted. This document will be updated when necessary. Topics included so far are:

1. Spray model and defaults for mass generation rate, spray duration (inhalation) and release duration (dermal)
2. Mass transfer coefficient
3. Dilution as parameter

Log of changes in ConsExpo Web

This table provides a log of the changes made in ConsExpo Web since the release of ConsExpo Web version 1.0 in October 2016.