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J Environ Monit

Title:		"Annual transition and seasonal variation of indoor air pollution levels of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol in large-scale buildings in Nagoya, Japan"
Author(s):		Sakai K; Kamijima M; Shibata E; Ohno H; Nakajima T;
Address:		"Nagoya City Public Health Research Institute, 1-11, Hagiyama-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8615, Japan. k-sakai@ma.medias.ne.jp"
Journal Title:		J Environ Monit
Year:		2009
Volume:		20090917
Issue:		11
Page Number:		2068 - 2076
DOI:		10.1039/b910558a
ISSN/ISBN:		1464-0333 (Electronic) 1464-0325 (Linking)
Abstract:		"2-Ethyl-1-hexanol (2E1H) is a possible causative chemical for sick building symptoms; however, thus far, we do not have a clear understanding of the indoor air pollution levels caused by it. In this study, first, airborne 2E1H concentrations were measured during summer and winter from 2004 to 2007 in 67 rooms of 56 large-scale buildings in Nagoya, Japan, in order to show the seasonal variation of indoor air pollution levels of 2E1H. Then, a follow-up survey was conducted in five rooms of five buildings for more than 2 years in order to establish the annual transition of their 2E1H indoor air pollution levels. 2E1H was found to be one of the predominant volatile organic compounds in the indoor air of large-scale buildings. Its geometric mean concentration was significantly higher during summer (55.4 microg/m3) than during winter (13.7 microg/m3) (p < 0.01), although there was a significant difference in the concentrations among the buildings. High 2E1H concentrations may have been caused by high emission rates of 2E1H from floors, because of the hydrolysis of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in polyvinyl chloride flooring materials or of adhesives containing 2-ethylhexyl moieties. Follow-up observations showed little decrease in the indoor air 2E1H concentrations from one year to the next, although they did show seasonal fluctuations, with an evident increase in concentrations during summer and an evident decrease during winter"
Keywords:		"Air Pollution, Indoor/*adverse effects/*analysis Construction Materials/adverse effects/analysis Environmental Monitoring Hexanols/*adverse effects/*analysis Humans Japan Seasons Sick Building Syndrome/*chemically induced/etiology Ventilation;"
Notes:		"MedlineSakai, Kiyoshi Kamijima, Michihiro Shibata, Eiji Ohno, Hiroyuki Nakajima, Tamie eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2009/11/06 J Environ Monit. 2009 Nov; 11(11):2068-76. doi: 10.1039/b910558a. Epub 2009 Sep 17"