What's New List Serve Post Display

Addresses air fresheners, paint thinners and multi-purpose
solvents. 

Release 09-88
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2009
	  	  	
Dimitri Stanich
(916)322-2825
www.arb.ca.gov

California adopts new limits for in consumer products

Country's most stringent controls will reduce ozone and prevent
emissions of airborne toxins

DIAMOND BAR, CALIF. : Today the Air Resources Board adopted a
regulation for air fresheners, paint thinners and multi-purpose
solvents that will eliminate more than 14 tons-per-day of
volatile organic compounds when fully implemented in 2014, and
prohibits the use of several toxic air contaminants.

According to California's clean air laws, chemically created
products used by homeowners and institutions are consumer
products and subject to air pollution regulatory control. These
emit nearly 255 tons-per-day of VOCs statewide. The
sub-categories of products addressed by today's action emit 22
tons-per-day of the smog forming compounds.

"Consumer products are not widely recognized as a source of air
pollution," said ARB Executive Officer James Goldstene. "But the
millions of times a day these are sprayed, poured and painted
generate a large cloud of fumes that can create ozone and
contribute to California's smog problem."

The new regulation, which will result in one of the state's
largest reductions of VOCs from consumer products, also sets a
cap on the use of high global warming ingredients, another U.S.
first.

The cap on global warming ingredients was adopted to create a
backstop that would avoid the need to review the regulation if
such compounds were to be considered for future formulas.

ARB officials expect the average increase cost to consumers to
be about $1.50 per gallon of paint thinner.

VOCs are a target of air quality regulations because they easily
convert to ozone in the heat of California's climate. Ozone can
worsen asthma, cause serious lung inflammation, decrease lung
function and lead to emergency room visits for asthma,
hospitalization for respiratory conditions and increased school
absences.

The California Clean Air Act adopted in 1988 required ARB to
reduce VOC emissions from consumer products as a means to reach
state and federal ambient air quality standards. Since that date
ARB regulations have curbed these emissions by 44 percent, nearly
200 tons-per-day, and curbed toxic air contaminants by 13
tons-per-day.

The Air Resources Board is a department of the California
Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and
protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through
effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and
considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air
pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain
health based air quality standards.

#####