Emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from PVC floor coverings.

In this study 29 PVC floor coverings were tested for emission of vinyl chloride (VC) and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs). A study on the effect of higher temperature on emission of VOCs from newly manufactured PVC flooring was also carried out. The study was conducted in climatic chamber, according to Polish Standard PN-89/Z-04021. GC method was used for analyzing of the compounds emitted. VC was not emitted from any of the floorings tested. Other VOCs were emitted in different concentrations. The influence of temperature on emission was conducted at temperatures of 23 degrees C and 35 degrees C from 2 hrs up to 180 days after introduction of materials in the chamber. The increase of temperature caused increase of total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) emission during 24 hrs of experiment. Then the emission was comparable for both temperatures. After 9 days emission of identified and unidentified compounds (TVOC) showed a rapid decay and stayed on very low level during a few months. The study conducted showed that PVC floorings after 10 days of installation in the room should not be source of indoor air contamination.

Thermal desorption-gas chromatography for the determination of emission of volatile organic compounds from furnishing materials.

In order to determine volatile organic compounds (VOC) released from the building and furnishing materials gas chromatography with air samples enrichment on Tenax TA and thermal desorption was used. The results obtained were compared with the results of air samples enrichment on active carbon with carbon disulfide extraction. To the thermal desorption the home made device, a similar to device developed at Research Triangle Institute (USA), was used. The both methods of the air samples enrichment with thermal desorption or carbon disulfide extraction showed that the emission of the volatile organic compounds from the PVC floor covering is very low within the range from 0.01 to 0.03 mg/m2.h. Thermal desorption technique allows to detect a larger number of compounds in trace levels.

Effect of environmental conditions on re-emission of formaldehyde from textile materials.

Furnishing textile materials may be a source of formaldehyde (CH2O) re-emission if this compound is present in the environment. In the examinations performed the effect of temperature (23 degrees C, 35 degrees C) and air humidity (RH: 45%, 85%) upon CH2O re-emission from curtain materials was determined. The source of CH2O emission was particle board. CH2O emission was determined in small glass chambers (13.08 dm3) in controlled conditions, one air exchange per hour at loading factor of 1 m2/m3. The results of these examinations showed that the effect of temperature and humidity upon CH2O adsorption and desorption was different. Increase of temperature from 25 degrees C to 35 degrees C caused increase of the magnitude and rate of CH2O re-emission and the phenomenon intensified at high air humidity.

Formaldehyde release from furnishing fabrics. Effect of ageing, temperature and air humidity.

The contamination of indoor air by formaldehyde (CH2O) is a serious hygienic problem. One of the potential sources of formaldehyde release may be furnishing fabrics. The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of ageing on textiles (17.5 months), air temperature (25-45 degrees C) and relative air humidity (RH) (45-85%) on the CH2O release rate from 6 kinds of drapers and furniture coverings. The emission was determined in small glass chambers (13.08 dm3) under controlled conditions: at one air exchange per hour and load factor 1 m2/m3. Results of these studies indicated that effect of textile ageing on CH2O emission was different for each fabric tested. The increase of temperature and RH within the ranges studied multiplied the rate of CH2O release. The drapers and covering fabrics tested, in the production of which textile dressing containing CH2O compounds was used, may remain a source of formaldehyde emission for several months.

Hygienic aspects of the use of pressed-wood products in residential buildings. Part I. The effect of particleboards ageing on release of formaldehyde.

Urea-formaldehyde-resins bounded particleboards (100 x 40 mm plates) each from a different manufactory plant, were stored at room temperature, with free access of air. In selected time intervals plates were placed in the climatic chamber for five days, and formaldehyde (CH2O) emission were determined. The conditions were as follows: loading factor 1 m2/m3, one air exchange per hour, air temperature of 25 degrees C and relative humidity (RH) 45%. During the 3 months following the production, CH2O emission decreased by more than 50%. During the next months of storing the emission decrease was slight. In the period of 1-3 years since the production, CH2O emission was 0.13-0.06 mg/m2/h, regardless of the amount of formaldehyde released in the first period after the production.

Hygienic aspects of the use of pressed-wood products in residential buildings. Part II. The effect of environmental conditions (temperature and relative humidity) on formaldehyde emission from particleboards.

The effect of air temperature (25-45 degrees C) and relative humidity (45-85%) upon formaldehyde emission from particleboards produced in three different plants was examined. The plates measuring 40 mm x 100 mm were kept in the climatic chamber in dynamic conditions (1 air exchange per hour) loading factor 1 m2/m3. Air samples from the chamber were collected for 4 subsequent days. A considerable effect of temperature and relative humidity upon the increase of formaldehyde emission was found, especially at simultaneous action of these two factors. The effect of temperature "shock" was determined after a rapid elevation of the chamber temperature from 25 degrees up to 40 degrees C. Several days after the steady state had been established, the temperature was lowered again to 25 degrees C. The temperature "shock" did not change the stable emission rate of CH2O from materials tested.

Investigations into the effect on rats of volatile organic compounds released from the set of building and finishing materials.

White, male Wistar rats were exposed continuously in chamber during 3 months on volatile organic compounds emitted from set of building and finishing materials used in living areas on ship. The air contamination was checked. The following tests for determination of combined toxic effects were performed: functional activity, the body and organ weights, basic hematological determinations, serum enzyme activity (GOT, GPT, AP, LAP, LDH), serum concentrations of protein, urea, creatinine, bilirubin, lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides, and in the liver mitochondria Mg+2(-)-ATPase, concentration of cholesterol, phospholipids, and liver function after loading with benzoate. After 3 months of the exposure we observed changes in AP and LDH activities, and decrease of the concentration of serum triglycerides.

Application of gas chromatography combined with enrichment of samples on activated carbon to determine low concentrations of organic compounds in the air. Part II. Butanol and butyl acetate.

The gas chromatography with initial enrichment of the samples on activated carbon was employed to determine low concentrations of butanol and butyl acetate mixture in the air with different humidity content. In the range of concentrations examined (20-30 MAC for the atmospheric air) no apparent influence of moisture content in the air on the "breakthrough" of sorbent layer was stated. Moreover, butanol desorption efficiency decreased simultaneously with the increase of quantity of humidity adsorbed on the activated carbon. The analytic technique discussed should not be employed in determination of butanol low concentrations in the air with relative humidity exceeding 50%, and, in case this is of necessity, when the desorption coefficient is estimated, the amount of water adsorbed on the activated carbon during sampling should be regarded.