TY - JOUR
T1 - Indoor volatile organic compounds at an Australian university
AU - Goodman, Nigel B.
AU - Wheeler, Amanda J.
AU - Paevere, Phillip J.
AU - Selleck, Paul W.
AU - Cheng, Min
AU - Steinemann, Anne
N1 - Funding Information:
The study received support from the Clean Air and Urban Landscapes Hub, at the University of Melbourne , through the Australian Department of the Environment and Energy ; CSIRO Land and Water ; CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere (Climate Science Centre); and the Australian Department of Education and Training (Australian Postgraduate Award). Dr Wheeler's position was supported by the NHMRC funded Centre for Research Excellence (Centre for Air Quality and Health Research and Evaluation, Australia). The authors thank the supporters of this study, and Kirsten Raynor for her valuable reviews of this article.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2018/5/1
Y1 - 2018/5/1
N2 - This study investigates volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at a large Australian university, within locations of campus services, restrooms, renovated offices, a green building, meeting areas, and classrooms. Analysis of 41 VOCs across 20 locations reveals indoor concentrations higher than outdoor concentrations for 97% of all VOC measurements (493 unique comparisons). Hazardous air pollutants (formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, and xylenes) were up to an order of magnitude higher indoors than outdoors, and at the highest combined geometric mean concentrations in classrooms (51.6 μg/m3), renovated offices (42.8 μg/m3), and a green building (23.0 μg/m3). Further, d-limonene, ethanol, hexaldehyde, β-pinene, and isobutane were up to two orders of magnitude higher indoors than outdoors. The most prevalent VOCs (e.g., ethanol, d-limonene, and formaldehyde) have links with building materials, furnishings, and fragranced consumer products such as air fresheners and cleaning supplies. Highest indoor to outdoor concentration (I/O) ratios of formaldehyde (27), toluene (9), p-xylene (12), and m-xylene (11) were in a green building; highest of benzene (6) in renovated offices; and highest of o-xylene (9) in meeting areas. Results from this study are consistent with findings from similar international studies and suggest that university indoor environments may be important sources of pollutants.
AB - This study investigates volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at a large Australian university, within locations of campus services, restrooms, renovated offices, a green building, meeting areas, and classrooms. Analysis of 41 VOCs across 20 locations reveals indoor concentrations higher than outdoor concentrations for 97% of all VOC measurements (493 unique comparisons). Hazardous air pollutants (formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, and xylenes) were up to an order of magnitude higher indoors than outdoors, and at the highest combined geometric mean concentrations in classrooms (51.6 μg/m3), renovated offices (42.8 μg/m3), and a green building (23.0 μg/m3). Further, d-limonene, ethanol, hexaldehyde, β-pinene, and isobutane were up to two orders of magnitude higher indoors than outdoors. The most prevalent VOCs (e.g., ethanol, d-limonene, and formaldehyde) have links with building materials, furnishings, and fragranced consumer products such as air fresheners and cleaning supplies. Highest indoor to outdoor concentration (I/O) ratios of formaldehyde (27), toluene (9), p-xylene (12), and m-xylene (11) were in a green building; highest of benzene (6) in renovated offices; and highest of o-xylene (9) in meeting areas. Results from this study are consistent with findings from similar international studies and suggest that university indoor environments may be important sources of pollutants.
KW - BTEX
KW - Formaldehyde
KW - Indoor air quality
KW - Indoor environments
KW - University
KW - Volatile organic compounds
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85044567959&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.buildenv.2018.02.035
DO - 10.1016/j.buildenv.2018.02.035
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85044567959
SN - 0360-1323
VL - 135
SP - 344
EP - 351
JO - Building and Environment
JF - Building and Environment
ER -