VOC

Urban indoor air quality (IAQ) is an international health issue, since city dwellers spend 90% of theirtime indoors. Research by a number of authors is reviewed here, demonstrating a range of capacitiesof indoor plants to improve IAQ and promote occupant wellbeing. Our laboratory studies, with nineindoor plant species, and our field studies in 60 offices, show that potted-plants can reliably reducetotal volatile organic compound (TVOC) loads, a major class of indoor pollutants, by 75%, to below100 ppb. They work equally well with or without air-conditioning, and in light or dark.

Home electrical appliances release hazardous chemical substances produced by the effects of heatingduring their operation. The present study investigated the emission rates of chemical substances onhome electrical appliances such as microwave ovens, vacuum cleaners, electric heaters, electricblankets, multimedia players, electronic dictionaries, MD players and notebook PCs.The VOCs emission rates of comparatively small products were measured using a small-scaleenvironmental chamber with a volume of 0.065 [m3].

The objective of this paper is to present the contaminant removal efficiency of a prototype air cleanerusing the adsorption/desorption effect and to investigate the practicality of this air cleaner. Toluene andformaldehyde were used as pollutant sources and were emitted at a constant rate in a test chamber.Effects of the number of sorption units, the operational time and mode on the contaminant removalperformance were examined. Sorption materials that were evaluated were a porous material, zeolite,pumice stone, and hydro-corn.

This study aimed to investigate volatile organic compound (VOC) emission fluxes from a new air filtermedia and a used one. The emission tests from air filters were carried out by the small chambermethod and a new chamber method developed in this study. And the VOCs in an actual air conditioningunit were measured in order to confirm the emission from the air filter. The some VOCs emitted fromused air filter could be detected in the emission tests. The air filter medias emitted formaldehyde andother organic compounds, and airflow through filter media changed emission fluxes.

The indoor air quality of railroad passenger cabin is often polluted by various pollutants. The pollutantssources of the passenger cabin are the passengers with their belongings, the inflowing outdoor air, andthe interior materials like floorings, seats, paints, and adhesives. In this study, we focused on thepollutants emissions from the interior materials, and carried out the characterization of emitted volatileorganic compound (VOC) in an environmental chamber. We could find out that a large amount ofvarious VOCs emitted from the surface of interior materials.

In this study the question whether or not and to what extend ventilation and air cleaning can contribute to the reduction of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in the hospitality industry is answered. First a literature review on ventilation and air cleaning technologies has been executed. Unfortunately, only a few papers reporting experimental data from the hospitability industry were available to answer the proposed question. Therefore a model describing the effect of different ventilation systems and building layouts has been set up.

Exposure risk assessment of any possible release of chemicals from manufactured products, and their possible impact on health and environment is now an important requirement by the European Commission. Environmental exposure assessment should form an integral part of the risk assessment of a biocidal product, including wood preservatives and the active ingredients. Preferably, representative data from well-designed field studies should form the basis of the exposure risk assessment.

The effect on Indoor Air Quality of painting at home while resident stays at home has been discussed. This paper presents a case study of the effects. A normal Scandinavian apartement has been refurnished with new paint on the walls and ceilings and the VOC emissions have been followed during eight weeks. Two types of low-emitting paint was selected for the study. A paint shop rolled two layers of new paint on the walls and ceiling in two rooms in the flat.

Describes a study carried out to analyse the findings of VOC levels found in a tropical office building under different conditions of ventilation operation. Twelve target VOCs and TVOC were measured under two scenarios - normal occupancy and with the ventilation system shut down. Suggests evaluating the area-specific emission rates figures (SER) as the better method of determining source indicators.

The emission rate of VOCs and aldehydes from materials typically found in ventilation ducts was measured. It was found to be low for some duct liners, but high for duct sealing caulk and a neoprene gasket - in fact approaching the odour threshold. Exposure to ozone was found to increase the emission rate of aldehydes from a duct liner, duct sealing caulk and neoprene gasket. When exposed to ozone, the removal efficiency for a lined duct diminished to less than 4% over 10 days. It was much lower for an unlined duct.