Revised On: Feb. 25, 2024 - 9:00 a.m.

Learning Objectives:

• Define what an aerosol is. 
• Identify the impact on human health and the environment when using aerosolized cleaners.
• Identify regulatory considerations for your aerosolized cleaners
• Determine P2 opportunities available for these cleaners. 

What are Aerosolized Cleaners?

An aerosolized cleaner is a cleaning product dispensed as a fine mist or spray of tiny droplets. These droplets are suspended in the air, creating an aerosol. Aerosolized cleaners are commonly packaged in pressurized single-use containers with nozzles. When the aerosolized cleaner is used, the cleaner is released as a spray of small particles. Aerosolized cleaners are used for various cleaning and maintenance tasks in automotive shops due to their convenience and effectiveness. A blend of solvents is usually what’s present in these cleaners that are being used in your automotive shop. This leads to additional health and environmental concerns as it’s dispersed into the air. Aerosolized cleaners often contain a mixture of chemicals, some of which can be toxic or harmful to human health. Awareness of the product's specific ingredients and potential health hazards is essential.

Let’s first look at the health considerations when using aerosolized cleaners:

• Inhalation: Inhalation of aerosolized cleaner particles or fumes is a primary concern. Breathing in these particles can lead to respiratory irritation, coughing, and potentially more severe health effects, especially if the product contains harmful chemicals.
• Contact: Depending on the product's chemical composition, direct skin contact with aerosolized cleaner particles or the liquid can cause skin irritation, dermatitis, or chemical burns. Aerosolized cleaners can cause irritation, burning, and redness if they come into contact with the eyes. In severe cases, exposure to certain chemicals can lead to eye damage.

There are many environmental considerations when working with aerosolized cleaners. 

As we just learned with solvents, aerosolized cleaners can release VOCs and other airborne pollutants into the atmosphere. These pollutants can contribute to air pollution, smog formation, and poor air quality, adversely affecting human health and the environment. Choosing low-VOC or VOC-free cleaners can help reduce these emissions. This will usually be stated on the product itself, but you can look for chemicals present as covered in the previous lesson. In enclosed spaces, using aerosolized cleaners can lead to the buildup of indoor air pollutants, which can harm occupants. Proper ventilation and air exchange rates are essential to maintain good indoor air quality.

Aerosolized cleaners that contain harmful chemicals can negatively impact local ecosystems if released into the environment. These chemicals can harm plants, animals, and aquatic life. It's essential to follow recommended disposal procedures and avoid unnecessary outdoor use.

Management and Disposal

Managing and storing aerosolized cleaners in automotive repair shops is crucial for the safety of employees and the environment. While in use or in storage, be sure to review the manufacturer’s storage recommendations, as well as the safety data sheet (SDS) for the specific aerosol you are using. Once the container is determined to be waste, it will most likely also be considered hazardous waste due to the propellants or liquids inside. Aerosol cans are further specified to be a universal waste. A universal waste is a waste that is hazardous, but follows a different set of management standards than a normal hazardous waste. There are two ways to manage the aerosol can when it’s determined to be a hazardous waste.  

The first of which is to just dispose of the whole aerosol can. You may notice a small amount of liquid left in an aerosol can after it is no longer usable. That is the portion considered to be hazardous waste, but without that substance being removed from the can, the can as a whole has to be treated as hazardous waste. The standards for aerosol cans are found in 40 CFR 273.13(e) and include:

• Accumulating aerosol cans in a structurally sound, compatible with the contents of the aerosol cans, lacks evidence of leakage, spillage, or damage that could cause leakage under reasonably foreseeable conditions, and is protected from sources of heat.
• Aerosol cans that show evidence of leakage must be packaged in a separate closed container or overpacked with absorbents

You can reduce the disposal costs of the increased waste when having to dispose of the whole can by puncturing the cans to drain the contents. There are additional standards that have to be met to utilize puncturing aerosol that is found in the same regulations at 40 CFR 273.13(e). The standards are summarized as the following:

• The device used to puncture cans must be specifically designed to safely puncture aerosol cans and effectively contain the residual contents and any emissions thereof.
• A written procedure must be established and followed that details how to safely puncture and drain the universal waste aerosol can; maintain a copy of the manufacturer's specification and instruction on site; ensure employees operating the device are trained in the proper procedures; respond to and prepare for spills or leaks.
• The puncturing of the can must be done in a manner designed to prevent fires and the release of any component of universal waste to the environment. This manner includes but is not limited to, locating the equipment on a solid, flat surface in a well-ventilated area.
• The content from the waste aerosol can or puncturing device must be immediately transferred, if applicable, to a container or tank that meets the applicable generator requirements.
• A hazardous waste determination must be made on the contents emptied from the aerosol can. Any contents determined to be hazardous waste are considered to be generated and are subject to applicable hazardous waste regulations.
• A written procedure must be in place in the event of a spill or leak, and a spill clean-up kit must be provided. All spills or leaks of the contents of the aerosol cans must be cleaned up promptly.

Pollution Prevention Opportunities

When working with aerosolized cleaners in the automotive industry, several Pollution Prevention (P2) opportunities can help reduce environmental impacts, enhance workplace safety, and save costs. Let’s review some of these P2 opportunities. 

• Substitution to environmentally friendly products. The easiest way to find environmentally friendly products is to look for EPA’s SaferChoice label. This ensures that the products are effective while having safer ingredients for human health and the environment. If you cannot find a SaferChoice product, the next best thing to look for are products that state low or no VOCs, just like with solvents.
• Reusable sprayers use compressed air to pressurize the contents. This means that the propellants found in aerosol cans, which are usually considered hazardous waste, would no longer be a factor in disposal. The products used with your facility's aerosol cans can also be bought in bulk, reducing costs. This may also eliminate one of your hazardous waste streams as you refill and use all of the product within the can, so no waste is produced until cleaning of the sprayer itself is needed. 
• Inventory control best practices will ensure that aerosol cans that are purchased are being used before expiring. Choose aerosol cans with the appropriate size for your needs. Smaller containers can reduce the amount of product used and minimize waste. Make sure all cans are empty before being disposed of. 
• Efficient use of aerosol cleaners can have a significant impact on use overall. Spray only what’s needed to clean the part and try to minimize the need for aerosol cleaners. Use the aerosol in small spurts to avoid overspray when cleaning parts. In addition,  double check if the nozzle is pointed in the right direction and it is not obstructed to make sure cleaners are applied correctly.

In the next lesson, we will talk about oil.