The inhalation of naphthalene used as deodorant balls in public toilets could be an important cancer risk factor. The atmospheric concentration of naphthalene in public toilets (C(in)) was estimated both by a polyurethane foam passive air sampler (PUF-PAS) deployed in nine public toilets in Seoul, Korea and by a steady-state indoor air quality model, including emission estimation using Monte-Carlo simulation. Based on the estimated C(in), cancer risk was also assessed for cleaning workers and the general population. The steady-state C(in) estimated using the estimated emission rate, which assumed that air exchange was the only process by which naphthalene was removed, was much greater than the C(in) value measured using PUF-PAS in nine public toilets, implying the importance of other removal processes, such as sorption to walls and the garments of visitors, as well as decreased emission rate owing to wetting of the naphthalene ball surface. The 95 percentile values of cancer risk for workers based on the estimation by PUF-PAS was 1.6×10⁻⁶, whereas those for the general public were lower than 1×10⁻⁶. The results suggested that naphthalene deodorant balls in public toilets may be an important cancer risk factor especially for the cleaning workers.
Air Pollution, Indoor ; Clothing ; Deodorants ; Inhalation Exposure ; Inhalation ; Korea ; Polyurethanes ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Seoul

The inhalation of naphthalene used as deodorant balls in public toilets could be an important cancer risk factor. The atmospheric concentration of naphthalene in public toilets (C(in)) was estimated both by a polyurethane foam passive air sampler (PUF-PAS) deployed in nine public toilets in Seoul, Korea and by a steady-state indoor air quality model, including emission estimation using Monte-Carlo simulation. Based on the estimated C(in), cancer risk was also assessed for cleaning workers and the general population. The steady-state C(in) estimated using the estimated emission rate, which assumed that air exchange was the only process by which naphthalene was removed, was much greater than the C(in) value measured using PUF-PAS in nine public toilets, implying the importance of other removal processes, such as sorption to walls and the garments of visitors, as well as decreased emission rate owing to wetting of the naphthalene ball surface. The 95 percentile values of cancer risk for workers based on the estimation by PUF-PAS was 1.6×10⁻⁶, whereas those for the general public were lower than 1×10⁻⁶. The results suggested that naphthalene deodorant balls in public toilets may be an important cancer risk factor especially for the cleaning workers.
Air Pollution, Indoor ; Clothing ; Deodorants ; Inhalation Exposure ; Inhalation ; Korea ; Polyurethanes ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Seoul

Formaldehyde is a colorless irritating gas of pungent odor, which is used as a disinfectant, antiseptic, deodorant, tissue fixative and embalming fluid, It is used in the formation of resins, alcohols and acids, and in permanent press processes in the textile industry. If formaldehyde is swallowed, severe abdominal pain and vomiting is immediately noted. Corrosive gastritis can follow with diffuse ulceration, fibrosis and contracture of the stomach, resembling linitis plastica, which may be severe enough to require gastrectomy. We report a case of cicatricial contracted stomach due to the ingestion of formalin.
Abdominal Pain ; Alcohols ; Contracture ; Deodorants ; Eating* ; Embalming ; Fibrosis ; Formaldehyde* ; Gastrectomy ; Gastritis ; Linitis Plastica ; Odors ; Stomach* ; Textile Industry ; Ulcer ; Vomiting

Formalin is a water-soluble, colorless, pungent, irritating and highly reactive gas. A 40% solution of formaldehyde in water, also known as formalin, is used as a disinfectant, antiseptic, deodorant, tissue fixative and embalming fluid. Ingestion can lead to immediate deleterious effects on almost all systems of the body including gastrointestinal tract, central nervous system, cardiovsacular system and hepato-renal system, causing gastrointestinal hemorrhage, cardiovsacular collapse, unconsciousness or convulsions, severe metabolic acidosis and acute respiratory distress syndrome. We treated a 39-year-old woman who ingested 300 ml formalin in a suicidal attempt. Despite hemodialysis, death occurred after 23 h.
Acidosis ; Adult ; Central Nervous System ; Deodorants ; Eating ; Embalming ; Female ; Formaldehyde ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Renal Dialysis ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; Seizures ; Unconsciousness

Benzethonium chloride is quaternary ammonium compounds, which may cross-react with benzalkonium chloride. It has been used in the treatment of burns, ulcers, wounds, and infected dermatoses and also present in many cosmetics, deodorants, mouthwashes, dentifrices, lozenges, and ophthalmic preparations. Cetostearyl alcohol is used as emulsifiers and can be considered as preservatives. A 19-year-old female presented with well-demarcated adult-fist sized dark-reddish patch on the left shin. She had applied Senepul(R) (disinfectant solution) 3 months ago due to scratching wound and applied Travogen(R). Patch test with Korean standard series and the ingredients of used topical agents showed positive reactions to benzethonium chloride and cetostearyl alcohol.
Benzalkonium Compounds ; Benzethonium* ; Burns ; Dentifrices ; Deodorants ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Female ; Humans ; Mouthwashes ; Patch Tests ; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds ; Skin Diseases ; Ulcer ; Wounds and Injuries ; Young Adult