Decreasing concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOC) emitted following home renovations. 2010

O Herbarth, and S Matysik
Faculty of Medicine, Environmental Medicine and Hygiene, University Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany. olf.herbarth@medizin.uni-leipzig.de

Volatile organic compounds (VOC) play an important role indoors since they have been linked to health symptoms and disorders. Particularly, after renovation activities, high indoor VOC concentrations have been observed. The study will give an indication, for the first time under real conditions, of the to-be-expected time frame for renovation-derived indoor pollution decreases when the exposure to it will reach a reference level. The decrease in the concentrations of investigated 26 VOC after renovations was assessed under real-life situations. Both the daily VOC concentration was measured by active sampling for 30 days in selected homes which had undergone various renovations and, as part of an epidemiologic study, the same VOC were collected monthly using passive samplers in 243 homes. An exponential function was used to interpret the concentration decay. The average time range which has to elapse following renovation activities before a guideline value or reference load is reached showed a time range between 2 and 8 weeks. This waiting time had at least be applicable to public buildings and institutions (especially relevant in case of nurseries, playschools etc.) with increasingly being implemented in private homes as well. Practical Implications After renovation an optimal waiting period had to be up to 60 days before the rooms will be used again. Fourteen days are possible, but increased ventilation is recommended. These had to be applicable at least for public buildings used by risk groups like young children. Renovations had to be carried out in summer season to ensure optimal ventilation to reduce the waiting time.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D005160 Facility Design and Construction Architecture, exterior and interior design, and construction of facilities other than hospitals, e.g., dental schools, medical schools, ambulatory care clinics, and specified units of health care facilities. The concept also includes architecture, design, and construction of specialized contained, controlled, or closed research environments including those of space labs and stations. Facility Construction,Facility Design,Construction, Facility,Constructions, Facility,Design, Facility,Designs, Facility,Facility Constructions,Facility Designs
D006798 Housing Living facilities for humans. Family-Patient Lodging,Patient-Family Lodging,Family Patient Lodging,Family-Patient Lodgings,Lodging, Family-Patient,Lodging, Patient-Family,Lodgings, Family-Patient,Lodgings, Patient-Family,Patient Family Lodging,Patient-Family Lodgings
D055549 Volatile Organic Compounds Organic compounds that have a relatively high VAPOR PRESSURE at room temperature. Volatile Organic Compound,Compound, Volatile Organic,Compounds, Volatile Organic,Organic Compound, Volatile,Organic Compounds, Volatile

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