Wet process copying machines: A source of volatile organic compound emissions in buildings

Tsuchiya, Yoshio; Clermont, M. J.; Walkinshaw, Douglas S.

doi:10.1002/etc.5620070103

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 1 publication

(1 reference statement)

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“…In cases where sources are localized and emission potential is high (such as ammonia from blueprint machines, odors from lavatories, combustion gases from kitchens), local exhaust control is more effective than general ventilation. Problems may arise, however, when (1) high emission sources such as wet process photocopiers are used (Tsuchiya, 1988;Tsuchiya and Stewart, 1990), (2) symptoms are associated with surface dust levels (Wallace et al, 1991;Raw et al, 1993), and (3) elevated VOC levels result from the emissions of many small diffuse sources in new buildings. In such cases, significant increases in ventilation rates may not be sufficient to reduce contaminant concentrations to acceptable levels.…”

Section: Source Emission Strengthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationships Between Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality: A Review

Godish

Spengler

1996

Indoor Air

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Adjustment of ventilation rates in buildings is widely practised, both to provide good air quality on a proactive basis and to mitigate air quality problems associated with occupant complaints. However, both cross‐sectional and experimental epidemiological studies have reported mixed results and have for the most part failed to establish definitive relationships between ventilation rates and symptom prevalence or dissatisfaction with air quality. The difficulties involved in establishing such relationships may be due to a variety of confounding factors which include limitations in study design and interaction effects; difficulties in controlling ventilation rates in experimental studies; inadequate mixing of supply air in occupied spaces; high source strengths for some contaminants; dynamic interactions between sources and ventilation rates that result in increased contaminant emissions; contaminant dose‐response sensory effects which are log‐linear; potential contaminant generation within ventilation systems themselves; and multifactorial genesis of sick building symptoms. There is limited evidence to suggest that ventilation rate increases up to 10 L/s person may be effective in reducing symptom prevalence and occupant dissatisfaction with air quality and that higher ventilation rates are not effective. Because of complex relationships between ventilation rates, contaminant levels, and building‐related health complaints/dissatisfaction with air quality, the use of ventilation as a mitigation measure for air quality problems should be tempered with an understanding of factors which may limit its effectiveness.

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Section: Source Emission Strengthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationships Between Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality: A Review

Godish

Spengler

1996

Indoor Air

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“…O VOCs, especially from wet-process photocopiers (Tsuchiya et al, 1988) which have been associated CSIRO Building,Construction and Engineering,PO Box 56,Highett,Victoria 3190,Australia,Fax: with occupant illness more than dry-process photocopiers (Taylor et al, 1984), O ozone, O respirable particles, O formaldehyde, and O nitrogen dioxide.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Pollutant Emissions from Dry-Process Photocopiers

Brown¹

1999

Indoor Air

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Processes involved in pollutant emissions from a dry-process photocopier have been investigated in a controlled room dynamic environmental chamber. Volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions occurred at a constant rate dependent on copy speed. However, VOC emission rates per copy were increased by increases in chamber temperature (e.g., a 20% increase resulted from increasing temperature from 23 degrees C to 32 degrees C) or changing from single- to double-sided operation (40% increase). Respirable particle emissions occurred under copier-idle mode (probably from residues in the machine) as well as with copying. No significant chamber sink effects were observed for VOCs or respirable particles. Small emissions of nitrogen dioxide, ozone and formaldehyde were observed but were difficult to interpret. A procedure for assessing pollutant emissions from photocopiers is recommended.

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“…This does not appear to be a significant increase in concentration, especially in comparison with other sources which have been shown to contribute large quantities of VOCs indoors [33][34][35][36]. Overall, with or without smoking as a contributor, these low concentrations are not likely to present a significant health or irritation impact indoors.…”

Section: Irritation and Comfortmentioning

confidence: 81%

Review : Indoor Concentrations of Volatile Organic Compounds: Implications for Comfort, Health and Regulation

Holcomb¹,

Seabrook²

1995

Indoor Environment

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Recently published studies where individual volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been identified and quantified have been reviewed. Mean concentrations of the compounds have been calculated for public places, homes, and transportation environments. Where the data were available to differentiate between smoking and non-smoking areas these have been summarised.Studies which have attempted to assess health impacts such as odour and irritation in conjunction with VOCs appear to be using unrealistic mixtures and concentrations of VOCs compared to those found in real life situations. Future research employing more realistic concentrations of VOCs will aid in understanding the true effect VOCs may have on indoor air quality and the persons exposed in that environment. Research using the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) animal bioassay E981-84 may provide a reasonable method for establishment of human exposure guidelines. Concentrations found to cause irritation in humans are higher than typical indoor levels found in this review. Irritation is unlikely to occur at the mean levels reported herein. In general, where ventilation rates meet or exceed the requirements of ASHRAE Standard 62-1989, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality, TVOC levels are low, usually less than 1 mg/m3 and concentrations of individual VOCs are well below (less than 1 %) any recognised occupational exposure standard.

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Wet process copying machines: A source of volatile organic compound emissions in buildings

Cited by 5 publications

References 1 publication

Relationships Between Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality: A Review

Relationships Between Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality: A Review

Assessment of Pollutant Emissions from Dry-Process Photocopiers

Review : Indoor Concentrations of Volatile Organic Compounds: Implications for Comfort, Health and Regulation

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