Abstract
Reports from National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan and others indicate an increase of advisement on health damage by use of a fabric softener; however, a behavior of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from clothes washed with the softener was less reported. To clarify the behavior of VOCs from clothes used fabric softener and fragrance reagent, analyses of VOCs with GC/MS for different clothing materials and products were conducted. Analyses on VOCs behavior in repeated use and suspension of the softener were also conducted. Chemicals were estimated from the obtained mass spectrum of each peak comparing with a library spectrum pattern. Relationships between chemical properties and volatile behavior for high accuracy peaks were considered. As for clothing materials, the difference in VOCs behavior was observed. Volatile intensities of hydrophobic compounds tended to increase in artificial fiber clothing. By contrast, one of hydrophilic compounds increased in cotton clothing. VOCs in washing room air during wash were a little different from those of washed clothes. It is suggested that repeated use of fabric softener and fragrance reagent induces an increase of volatile intensities on hydrophobic compounds. In other words, this means that chemicals of high molecule without hydrophilic functional group tend to remain on the clothes. This may cause a change of fragrance. A suspension of these reagents decreases VOCs levels smoothly; however, the behavior of more use over ten times and difference of products are concerned. These results will be useful for the proper use of these kinds of laundry reagents to avoid health problems.
