Odor substances and correlated chemical risks in children's tents: A GC-Orbitrap HRMS-based non-targeted analysis

Children's tents provide small enclosed spaces that are in close contact with children, making it essential to identify odorants and potential chemical risks in these products. In this study, non-targeted screening was conducted using dual-mode gas chromatography-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-Orbitrap HRMS) with electron ionization (EI) and positive chemical ionization (PCI), leading to the identification of 94 volatile substances in 31 children's tents. Among these, 42 substances were associated with odor descriptions, and 30 had documented odor thresholds. Analysis of odorant distribution and contribution revealed that toluene, xylene, styrene, 2-methylnaphthalene, naphthalene, butyl acrylate, (2E)-2-nonenal, and 2-pentylfuran were the dominant odorants. A risk scoring scheme was adopted to quantitatively rank substances based on detection rate, average peak area, and hazardousness, enabling rapid identification of 16 high-risk substances. Spearman correlation analysis indicated that certain high-risk substances exhibited highly significant correlations, co-occurred in the samples, and consistent concentration trends, likely due to shared raw materials or manufacturing processes. This study offers critical insights for odor source tracing and the precise control of chemical risks in children's tents and related products.