Air Board drafting rules on consumer product emissions.

If state air regulators have their way, changes will soon be coming to a wide range of consumer products, from deodorants and hairsprays to carpet cleaners, insecticides and paint solvents.

The state Air Resources Board is in the midst of drafting regulations to reduce emissions of smog-forming organic gases from hundreds of consumer products sold in California. These compounds are typically used either as cleansers in consumer products or as aerosols to help propel the contents out of cans.

The crackdown stems from the state's 2003 air pollution control plan, which mandates sweeping reductions in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) across the state.

There have been previous rounds of regulation of VOCs that have reduced the total emissions to 240 tons per day last year from 320 tons per day in 1990--with many of the proposals opposed by manufacturers. In the South Coast air basin, which includes Los Angeles and Orange counties and the Inland Empire, VOC emissions fell to 105 tons last year from 142 tons per day in 1990.

But without further regulation, VOC emissions are projected to head back up again to nearly 300 tons per day by 2020 statewide and 121 tons per day in the South Coast air basin as a growing population uses more of these consumer products.

As a result, the 2003 air plan sets a timetable for additional VOC emission reductions to be implemented. The first phase is being implemented this year and includes first-time regulations on a number of products, from nail polishes to graffiti removal solvents. These regulations are projected to result in an immediate reduction of 5 tons per day.

Air Resources Board staff is now drawing up the emission reduction regulations for the second phase, which will be presented to the governing board in November. A workshop is scheduled for June 1 in Sacramento.

In materials for the last workshop in March, ARB staff warned: "There is a great need for reductions. A large number of categories will likely see new VOC limits ... It will be a tough challenge and communication is essential."

A consultant representing several consumer product manufacturers said the biggest concern with this round of regulations is that they will be hitting many products that already have had their VOC emissions reduced.

"We may be reaching the limits on how far these products can be reformulated," said Doug Raymond, who specifically cited hair spray as a product that has seen repeated reductions.

For more information on the workshop, log onto the Air Resources Board site with the link arb.ca.gov/consprod/regact/cpwg2006/cpwg2006.htm.