Title: | "An eight-city study of volatile organic compounds in Chinese residences: Compounds, concentrations, and characteristics" |
Author(s): | Pei J; Yin Y; Liu J; Dai X; |
Address: | "Tianjin Key Laboratory of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China. Electronic address: jpei@tju.edu.cn. Tianjin Key Laboratory of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China" |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134137 |
ISSN/ISBN: | 1879-1026 (Electronic) 0048-9697 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "This study conducted on-site measurements of indoor volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in 251 occupied residences in China, with multiple visits throughout a whole year. Over 1000 samples were collected for measurement of VOCs in 8 cities, covering different climate regions. Overall, the concentrations of total VOCs (TVOCs) in occupied residences are in the range of 104-1151?ª+mug/m(3), with 20% of the samples over the Chinese standard of 600?ª+mug/m(3). A higher concentration was evident in the summer (mean?ª+=?ª+705?ª+mug/m(3)) compared to other seasons, especially winter (mean?ª+=?ª+289?ª+mug/m(3)). The TVOCs of residences in areas with central heating (severe cold regions and cold regions) are generally higher than those in areas without central heating. In winter, temperature was the dominant factor, whereas in summer, the building infiltration rate was the key factor influencing the indoor TVOC levels. The TVOCs concentration was also found to be directly proportional to the city economy level. Twenty-nine VOC species with a detection frequency higher than 40% were identified in all samples. Toluene is the most common VOC, with the highest detection rate (90%). The median concentration for a single VOC was between 1 and 14?ª+mug/m(3). Aldehydes were found to be the largest contributors to total VOCs in the Chinese residential buildings (mass proportion 22%), followed by benzene series (20%), alkenes (18%), and alkanes (15%). Aldehydes, especially long-chain saturated carbonyls, are likely to be the characteristic VOCs in the Chinese dwellings, with Chinese cooking as the major emission source. In addition, n-butane/i-butane showed maximum concentration in some residences (approximately 10(5)?ª+mug/m(3) higher than other VOCs) owing to cooking fuel" |
Keywords: | "Air Pollutants/analysis Air Pollution, Indoor/analysis/*statistics & numerical data China Cities *Environmental Monitoring Housing Seasons Volatile Organic Compounds/*analysis Indoor air quality Occupancy On-site measurement Volatile organic compound;" |
Notes: | "MedlinePei, Jingjing Yin, Yihui Liu, Junjie Dai, Xilei eng Netherlands 2019/09/08 Sci Total Environ. 2020 Jan 1; 698:134137. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134137. Epub 2019 Aug 29" |