With respect to regulation of chemical substances in consumer products, different international legislative frameworks are relevant. The use and production of all substances that are processed in consumer products is regulated by REACH

Exposure factors are aspects (of e.g. our behaviour or the environment) that influence how closely we come in contact with stressors such as, for example, chemical substances. Important exposure factors are consumption of food and beverages, housing conditions, time spent in close contact with a stressor, but also inhalation rates and consumer products usage.

Aggregate exposure is the exposure to one single chemical via all exposure routes (dermal, oral and inhalatory) and from different sources (for example several different consumer products and/ or in combination with food).

Knowledge on the exposure part of the risk assessment is equally important as knowledge on the toxicological endpoints, but this knowledge is scarce. In exposure assessment, attention for a sensitive subpopulation such as for example children is important. 

Nanotechnologies and nanomaterials are applied in consumer products. Examples of consumer products that are claimed to contain nanoparticles or produced using nanotechnology, are the use of titanium dioxide in sunscreens, cerium oxide nanoparticles in diesel for combustion improvement and antibacterial properties of silver nanoparticles in wound dressings, textiles or large appliances.

Consumer exposure arises from a large diversity of products that may contain chemical compounds. Since experimental data on consumer exposure are scarce or absent, various models have been developed to estimate exposure to chemicals in or released from consumer products. RIVM has developed the following models: ConsExpo Web, PACEM, ConsExpo nano and DustEx.

In addition to the published data in the publications, this sites offers the opportunity to look up the results in pdf-tables.

Regularly a newsletter is dissaminated electronically with nutrition related news from RIVM.

Here you will find links to research institutes, databases, governmental institutes and foreign food consumption surveys.