Comments dougfratz has made

  • Particle Toxicity

    Inhalation of solid or low-volatility-liquid particles between about 1-10 microns can indeed present risks, although it does depend a lot on the chemistry (and sometimes even shape) of the particle.  These particles are generally referred to as "repirable" because they are small enough that they can travel deeply into the lungs, but not small enough to get re-exhaled. Aerosol products are very carefully designed to minimize respirable particles that could cause respiratory toxicity.  Mostly the particles are 100-1000 microns.  There are millions of valve variations that are used to provide the exact right particle sizes.On Umbra on aerosols posted 1 year, 1 month ago 9 Responses

  • Refillable "Aerosols"

    I think what you are referring to are relatively large containers that allow liquids to be sprayed with air pressure. These work fine for many commercial or manufacturing operations that have high usage.  They are not the same as the small, recyclable, long-shelf-life products usually thought of as consumer aerosol products.On Umbra on aerosols posted 1 year, 1 month ago 9 Responses

  • Putting the Air in Aerosols

    Aerosol products mostly can't use air as a propellant because air is 20% oxygen, which reacts slowly with other ingredients. Many aerosols do use compressed gases, though, mostly nitrogen (which is most of the other 80% of air)or carbon dioxide.  On Umbra on aerosols posted 1 year, 1 month ago 9 Responses

  • Errors in Aerosol Products Answer

    Grist is a fine website with much useful information.  However, Umbra Fisk's response to this question about aerosol products contains several errors.  First, companies producing aerosol products in the United States stopped using CFCs in 1978.  This was the first phase-out of any CFC uses anywhere.  Other uses for CFCs, such as for refrigerants, also now have been phased out in the US and most of the world.  Second, U.S. aerosol products did not move to HCFC propellants (as was done for refrigeration and air conditioning), but went directly to use of hydrocarbons (natural gas) and compressed gases (nitrogen, carbon dioxide, etc.).  These aerosol propellants have minimal global warming potential (GWP) because both carbon dioxide and nitrogen are obtained from the atmosphere.  Also, while it is true that HFC propellants used in a small number of aerosols contribute to GWP, HFC use is very small and is primarily limited to HFC-152a--the lowest GWP of all HFCs.  The aerosol products industry has worked hard for more than 30 years to assure that aerosol products are environmentally compatible.  I would be glad to provide any further information you need on today's aerosol products.

    -D. Douglas Fratz
    Vice President, Scientific & Technical Affairs
    Aerosol Products Division Staff Executive
    Consumer Specialty Products Association, Inc.
    900 17th Street, N.W., Suite 300
    Washington, DC 20006
    Phone: 202-833-7304
    dfratz@cspa.org
    www.cspa.orgOn Umbra on aerosols posted 1 year, 1 month ago 9 Responses