Long-term trend of indoor volatile organic compounds (VOC)

Abstract

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are suspected to be associated with health effects. In a first step, the health relevance could be judged using the sum concentration of a set of specific VOCs. This sum consists of a typical pattern of VOCs which may contribute to health disorders in a different way -for example, substances with an irritative, inflammatory or allergy triggering effect. That's why it is impossible to assess the health impact by means of the VOCsum. Furthermore, several groups of substances (or their percentage) can decrease or increase over time with or without influencing the VOCsum. From this point of view, it is necessary to know these typical patterns and to know whether these patterns have changed over the years.Within the frame of some epidemiological studies we investigated the indoor VOCs exposure burden during a 15 year period. 2679 measurements were performed and 4225 study participants were involved. The study was focused on homes with families. To avoid possible regional-specific confounder effects, this assessment was conducted for an urban centre in Germany with a sufficiently long and continuous time series (1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008). VOCs were determined using passive sampling over 4 weeks. The passive samplers were extracted and analysed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. All measurement periods were equally distributed over seasons and years.The time series of some groups of VOCs show a clear trend. A substantial reduction in the total sum of VOCs (about 60%) and aromatics (about 80%) could be demonstrated as well as a decreasing trend of alkanes. No such changes could be observed for cycloalkanes, chlorinated hydrocarbons and terpenes. The

Factors Shaping the Human Exposome in the Built Environment: Opportunities for Engineering Control

“…While pollutants in outdoor air can contribute to exposures within the built environment, there are also sources that produce distinct concerns indoors. Pollutants of traditional concern indoors include carbon monoxide, radon, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and particulate matter (PM). − Carbon monoxide is produced by incomplete combustion, such as from a fireplace or malfunctioning gas burners, and causes acute effects, ranging from headache at low levels to coma and death at high concentrations . Radon gas occurs naturally in soil in some regions and can infiltrate into buildings through cracks in the foundation and basement.…”

“…Formaldehyde is a well-known example that is commonly emitted in the built environment by the off-gassing of building materials, furniture, and carpets. − Formaldehyde exposure can induce acute poisoning, increase the risk of cancer, cause reproductive problems, decrease pulmonary function, and increase the risk of asthma and allergies. , Cleaning products, personal care products, paint, adhesives, and pesticides can be additional sources of VOCs . Certain metabolites produced by microbes are also VOCs. , Exposure to VOCs, especially during the early postnatal stage, can affect neurodevelopment and growth, and increase the risks of childhood respiratory diseases, such as asthma and wheezing. , …”

“…The generation and emission of traditional indoor air pollutants from combustion sources, building materials, furnishings, consumer products, personal care products, cleaning products, and gas-phase reactions have been reviewed elsewhere . Microbes and their emissions, including VOCs, , carbon dioxide, and various bioconstituents (such as spores and fungal fragments) are becoming recognized as a specific category of gases and particles contributing to the indoor exposome. , …”

“…98 Certain metabolites produced by microbes are also VOCs. 89,99 Exposure to VOCs, especially during the early postnatal stage, can affect neurodevelopment and growth, and increase the risks of childhood respiratory diseases, such as asthma and wheezing. 100,101 Occurring over a large size range of ∼0.001 to ∼100 μm, PM is a complex chemical mixture that may include acidic substances, organic compounds, oxidative species, pesticides, herbicides, and metals.…”

“…The generation and emission of traditional indoor air pollutants from combustion sources, building materials, furnishings, consumer products, personal care products, cleaning products, and gas-phase reactions have been reviewed elsewhere. 15 Microbes and their emissions, including VOCs, 89,99 carbon dioxide, and various bioconstituents (such as spores and fungal fragments) are becoming recognized as a specific category of gases and particles contributing to the indoor exposome. 23,153 As with all airborne pollutants in the built environment, microbial concentrations and community composition are largely shaped by emissions from occupants and other sources, microbial growth and decay rates, exchange with outdoor air, and properties of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system if present.…”