Indoor levels of volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde from emission sources at elderly care centers in Korea

Abstract

The objective of this study is to characterize indoor and outdoor levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde (HCHO) and identify indoor emission sources in thirty elderly care centers (ECCs) located in the Seoul metropolitan city and Gyeonggi province in Korea. Air monitoring samples from indoor and outdoor environments were collected from January to December in 2007. Statistical analyses of indoor and outdoor VOCs and HCHO levels in three rooms (a bedroom, living, and dining rooms) of each ECC were performed, and these were compared to identify environmental factors associated with an increase of indoor pollution levels. Total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) levels were significantly (p<0.05) different between indoor (230.7±1.7 μg/m3) and outdoor (137.8±1.9 μg/m3) environments, with an I/O ratio of 1.67. The indoor HCHO level (20.1±1.6 μg/m3) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than the outdoor level (8.1±1.9 μg/m3), with an I/O ratio of 2.48. Indoor VOCs and HCHO levels in the bedrooms were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those in the living and dining rooms. Furthermore, indoor levels of VOCs and HCHO at ECCs were significantly (p<0.05) different depending on environmental factors such as the use of carpet, paint, and wooden furniture. In multiple regression analysis, indoor VOCs and HCHO levels at ECCs were significantly (p<0.05) correlated with two micro-environmental factors: the use of carpet and paint. This study confirmed that indoor VOCs and HCHO levels were significantly higher than those in outdoor environments. These air pollutants were mainly emitted from indoor sources, such as carpet, paint, and construction materials at the ECCs in Korea.

Indoor Air Pollution, Related Human Diseases, and Recent Trends in the Control and Improvement of Indoor Air Quality

“…VOC concentrations in indoor environments are at least 10 times higher than outdoors, regardless of the building location [34,35]. Generally, indoor VOCs are generated from four main sources: (i) Human activities, including cooking, smoking, and the use of cleaning and personal care products; (ii) generation from indoor chemical reactions; (iii) penetration of outdoor air through infiltration and ventilation systems; and (iv) originating from building materials [35][36][37][38][39]. The VOCs concentration is able to be affected by air exchange rates, house age and size, building renovations, outdoor VOC levels, and door and window opening [40].…”

Assessment of the Indoor Air Quality of Akure, South – West, Nigeria

“…The concern over indoor air quality worldwide is on the increase due to its attendant problem caused mostly on children, pregnant women and the elderly. Common pollutants indoors are: volatile organic compounds (TVOC), formaldehyde (HCHO), fi ne particulate matter (PM), ozone (O 3 ), carbon monoxide (CO), CO 2 , and aldehydes caused by indoor emission sources like furniture, paints, combustion appliances, low ventilation within, seasonal variations, meteorological factors, and many other environmental factors (Lee et al, 2018;Walgraeve et al, 2011).…”

“…Several studies on indoor air quality have been published for example, Wang et al (2008); Petry et al (2014), Chen et al (2016); Shi et al (2016); Meˇciarová et al (2017); Lee et al (2018) many of the interests were on PM, TVOC, formaldehyde, O 3 , CO, CO 2 , and other aldehydes. Many of their observations were elevated levels of the parameters over the recommended standards.…”

“…Many of their observations were elevated levels of the parameters over the recommended standards. Different source apportionment (Li et al, 2014;Ma et al, 2016), methodologies (Chen et al (2016); Shi et al (2016); Meˇciarová et al (2017); Lee et al (2018), and instruments (Jiao et al, 2015;Van den Bossche et al, 2016;Zikova et al, 2017;Lee et al, 2018) have been used to determine and identify air pollution parameters. In Nigeria, many studies have not been done on indoor air pollution in Nigeria, but few literates obtained were done in Enugu (Ezezue and Diogu, 2017), Warri (Akpofure, 2015), Ile -Ife (Afolabi et al, 2016), Ido Ekiti (Ayodele et al, 2016), No report has been found for indoor pollution from Akure.…”

Assessment of the Indoor Air Quality of Akure, Nigeria

“…The concern over indoor air quality worldwide is on the increase due to its attendant problem caused mostly on children, pregnant women and the elderly. Common pollutants indoors are: volatile organic compounds (TVOC), formaldehyde (HCHO), fine particulate matter (PM), ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), CO2, and aldehydes caused by indoor emission sources like furniture, paints, combustion appliances, low ventilation within, seasonal variations, meteorological factors, and many other environmental factors (Lee et al, 2018;Walgraeve et al, 2011).…”