The entire range of organic indoor pollutants has been categorized by volatility as indicated in table 9 (WHO 1989). No sharp limits exist between the categories, which are defined by boilingpoint ranges. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have attracted considerable attention in nonindustrial environments. They have boiling points in the range of approximately 50 to 250!aC and vapor pressures greater than about A to B . [Note that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a specific regulatory definition of VOCs (40 CFR 51.100) that must be consulted if regulated U.S. air emissions are the matter of interest. Although similar to the definition here, it is more complex, with some excluded compounds and specified test methods.]
Sources of VOCs include solvents, reagents, and degreasers in industrial environments; and furniture, furnishings, wall and floor finishes, cleaning and maintenance products, and office and hobby activities in nonindustrial environments. Which gas contaminants are likely in an industrial environment can usually best be identified from the nature of the industrial processes, and that is the recommended first step. This discussion focuses on indoor VOCs because they are usually more difficult to identify and quantify.
Berglund et al. (1988) found that the sources of VOCs in nonidustrial indoor environments are confounded by the variable naturne of emissions from potential sources. Emissions of VOCs from indoor sources can be classified by their presence and rate patterns. For example, emissions are continuous and regular from building materials and furnishings (e.g., carpet and composite-wood furniture), whereas emissions from other sources can be continuous but irregular (e.g., paints used in renovation work), intermittent and regular (e.g., VOCs in combustion products from gas stoves or cleaning products), or intermittent and irregular (e.g., VOCs from carpet shampoos) (Morey and Singh 1991).
Many !°wet!± emission sources (paints and adhesives) have very high emission rates immediately after application, but rates drop steeply with time until the product has cured or dried. New “dry” materials (carpets, wall coverings, and furnishings) also emit chemicals at higher rates until aged. Decay of these elevated VOC concentrations to normal constant-source levels can take weeks to months, depending on emission rates, surface areas of materials, and ventilation protocols. Renovation can cause similar increases of somewhat lower magnitude. The total VOC concentration in new office buildings at the time of initial occupancy can be 50 to 100 times that present in outdoor air (Sheldon et al. 1988a, 1988b). In new office buildings with adequate outdoor air ventilation, these ratios often fall to less than 5:1 after 4 or 5 months of aging.
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