In
the present study, we aimed to define and report the universe
of ingredients used in consumer cleaning products in the United States.
To develop exposure estimates associated with the use of these cleaning
product ingredients, an inventory was developed using data provided
publicly by product formulators. The inventory included compilation
of product uses, ingredient names, and ingredient uses for over 13,000
ingredient listings from over 1,000 products surveyed. Ingredient
listings were consolidated to produce the Ingredient Inventory, a
list of 588 unique name-CAS registry number combinations. Ingredients
were associated with specific product uses. For each ingredient in
the inventory, chemical class and function were researched. Ingredient
functions were defined in terms of functional-use classes (FCs). Existing
FC lists provided by EPA’s Safer Choice Program, EU REACH,
INCI Dictionary, manufacturer Web sites and other sources were reviewed
and FCs from each source compiled and compared. FC naming conventions
and assignments were then harmonized with the recently developed OECD
Functional Use Category listings. This study presents the methods
used to create the inventory, determine the appropriate FC(s) for
each ingredient and fill data gaps using alternate sources and read-across.
It further presents trends in ingredient occurrence across both FCs
and broad cleaning product types, i.e. laundry care, dish care, hard
surface cleaners, as well as the distribution of FC types within product
types. This unique inventory of cleaning product ingredients () is hosted by the American Cleaning Institute, an industry trade
association that represents the formulators of more than 90% of the
consumer cleaning products in the United States. Such publicly available
data can now be used for future hazard assessments, and when coupled
with associated exposure assessments, employed to support screening-level
risk assessment of ingredients in cleaning products as a baseline
to better quantify the sustainability of consumer cleaning products
in the United States.