Cornell University Ergonomics Web
DEA3500: Ambient Environment: Volatile Organics and other Contaminants
Common household products e.g. detergents, soaps, oven cleaners, furniture polishes, paints, contain many different chemical substances, moreover few products list their component chemicals. But typical products and contaminants are as follows: (over 900 organics have been studied to date and a modern office building may contain around 300 of these)
| Material/Product | Major Organic Compounds Identified |
|---|---|
| Latex Caulk | Methyl ethyl ketone, butyl propionate, 2-butoxyethanol, butanol, benzene, toluene |
| Floor Adhesive (water based) | Nonane, decane, undecane, dimethyloctane, 2-methylnonane, dimethylbenzene |
| Particleboard | Formaldehyde, acetone, hexanal, propanol, butanone, benzaldehyde, benzene |
| Moth Crystals | Para-dichlorobenzene |
| Floor Wax | Nonane, decane, undecane, dimethyloctane, trimethylcyclohexane, ethylmethylbenzene |
| Wood Stain | Nonane, decane, undecane, methyloctane, dimethylnonane, trimethylbenzene |
| Latex Paint | 2-Propanol, butanone, ethylbenzene, propylbenzene, 1,1'-oxybisbutane, butyl propionate, toluene |
| Furniture Polish | Trimethylpentane, dimethylhexane, trimethylhexane, trimethylheptane, ethylbenzene, limonene |
| Polyurethane Floor Finish | Nonane, decane, undecane, butanone, ethylbenzene, dimethylbenzene |
| Room Freshener | Nonane, decane, undecane, ethylheptane, limonene, substituted aromatics (fragrances) |
| Mucus Membrane or Eye Irritants | Carcinogens | |
|---|---|---|
| Known | 48% | -- |
| Suspected | 36% | 28% |
| Unknown | 1% | 72% |
| None | 15% | -- |
84% of 62 (52) were known or suspected mucus membrane irritants. 28% (17) were suspected carcinogens.
EPA tests of VOC emissions from caulking compound show that they decrease over time but also there was a "sink" effect i.e. VOCs get absorbed or adsorbed onto walls or other surfaces and results in emissions.
Girman (1987) did this to a new building in San Francisco and results show that up to 29% decreased VOC's after 24 hours "bake-out". BUT no control, so don't know what decay rates would normally be, also don't know effect on HVAC system or other finishes or fixtures in building. Also, some VOC's show increased concentration after "bake-out"! No test of any health effects.
VOC concentrations (µg m-3) in an office cubicle before, during, and after bake-out at 32° C to 39° C for 24 h with ventilation of 1.59 ACH
| COMPOUND | BEFORE | DURING | AFTER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formaldehyde | 34 | 67 | 28 |
| Methylcyclopentane | 16.5 | T | 6.0 |
| Benzene | T | T | T |
| Heptane | 1.7 | 42.2 | 1.9 |
| Methylcyclohexane | T | 12.1 | BD |
| Toleune | 71.7 | 236 | 22.7 |
| Octane | T | 4.9 | T |
| Ethylbenzene | T | 4.2 | T |
| m,p-Xylene | 5.4 | 97.0 | 19.7 |
| 0-Xylene | BD | 24.8 | T |
| Ethylmethylbenzene | BD | 47.6 | T |
| 1,2,3-Trimethylbenzene | BD | 31.4 | T |
| Decane | 49.7 | 191 | 53.7 |
| 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene | BD | 10.1 | T |
| Dodecane | 35.4 | 110 | 21.0 |
| TOTAL | 214.4 | 878.3 | 153.0 |
Results
1. No reduction in total VOC's from partition samples before and after bakeout.
2. Particle board samples at 100 degrees F for 5 days showed 26% decrease in VOCs. BUT depends on compound: methylene chloride and benzene decreased while toluene and hexanes showed no decrease?
Overall results suggest that bakeout does not significantly accelerate normal aging process for VOC emissions. Also no significant decrease in formaldehyde with bakeout.
| EMISSION RATE (µg/m2/hr) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRODUCT | AVG BEFORE | BO DAY 1 | BO DAY 2 | BO DAY 3 | AVG AFTER |
| Partitions | 23.9 | 76.1 | 41.7 | 32.3 | 37.5 |
| Particle Board 1 | 737 | 8.93 | 8.93 | 13.4 | 547 |
| Particle Board 2 | 10.8 | 36700 | 64.8 | 16.8 | 24.7 |
Sources:
2.6 billion kgs of HCOH produced annually in USA, mainly as UF resin.
UF resin (mixture of urea, formaldehyde and water) is most common adhesive used in plywood, chipboard, particle board etc. UF resin will break down with heat into formaldehyde gas. Also between 1975 - 1981, 435,000 US homes had UFFI (1.25 x 10-6 people).
UF foam insulation involves mixing UF resin with foaming agent and compressed air, and foam is pumped into cavity walls (UFFI = urea formaldehyde foam insulation). Sale of UFFI banned in 1982 in US and in 1980 in Canada.
| Health Effects | Approx. Conc. (ppm) |
|---|---|
| None | 0 - 0.05 |
| Odor threshold | 0.05 - 1.0 |
| EEG changes (sensitivity of dark adapted eyes to light) | 0.05 - 1.5 |
| Eye irritation | 0.01 - 2.0 |
| Eye irritation (in presence of other pollutants) | 0.01 |
| Upper airway irritation | 0.10 - 25 |
| Lower airway irritation and pulmonary effects | 5.0 - 30 |
| Pulmonary edema, inflammation, pneumonia | 50 - 100 |
| Death | 100+ |
RR study suggests that occupancy less than 9 years RR = 1.6, greater than 9 years = 19.4!
Levels in mobile homes can reach > 3.5 ppm.
Current USA exposure standard = 1.0 ppm (30 min. average) cf. 2.0 ppm in UK.
a) UFFI's 9 different UFFI's tested 16 months after mixing and HCOH in air flowing past these was measured. Dry wall painted with latex paint. Results show that HCOH emissions vary with mix of UFFI and that concentrations of HCOH inside foam is not a good predictor of HCOH release.
b) Building materials and furnishings UF resin is most common adhesive used in production of plywood and particle board. Also UF in hardboards, decorative wall boards, soft, fibrous ceiling panels, fiberglass insulation, pre-pasted wallpapers, non-crease bedsheets, textiles, curtains/drapes etc.
HCOH emissions at 100% RH and room temperature from material samples in static desiccator [nb units = µg/g where g = weight of material]
HCOH emissions with increased air movement past samples [nb units = µg/hr/m2 of material]
c) Smoking A person smoking 1 pack of 20 cigarettes per day breathes in 0.38 mg of HCOH. Also effects on non-smokers e.g. in a room 30 m3 [1 m3 = 35 ft3 30 m3 = 1050 ft3] = 10 x 10 x 10 room 5 cigarettes smoked within 30 minutes increases HCOH from 0 - 0.23 ppm.
d) Residential HCOH level