Indoor levels of volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde from emission sources at elderly care centers in Korea

PLoS One. 2018 Jun 7;13(6):e0197495. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197495. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

The objective of this study is to characterize indoor and outdoor levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde (HCHO) and identify indoor emission sources in thirty elderly care centers (ECCs) located in the Seoul metropolitan city and Gyeonggi province in Korea. Air monitoring samples from indoor and outdoor environments were collected from January to December in 2007. Statistical analyses of indoor and outdoor VOCs and HCHO levels in three rooms (a bedroom, living, and dining rooms) of each ECC were performed, and these were compared to identify environmental factors associated with an increase of indoor pollution levels. Total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) levels were significantly (p<0.05) different between indoor (230.7±1.7 μg/m3) and outdoor (137.8±1.9 μg/m3) environments, with an I/O ratio of 1.67. The indoor HCHO level (20.1±1.6 μg/m3) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than the outdoor level (8.1±1.9 μg/m3), with an I/O ratio of 2.48. Indoor VOCs and HCHO levels in the bedrooms were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those in the living and dining rooms. Furthermore, indoor levels of VOCs and HCHO at ECCs were significantly (p<0.05) different depending on environmental factors such as the use of carpet, paint, and wooden furniture. In multiple regression analysis, indoor VOCs and HCHO levels at ECCs were significantly (p<0.05) correlated with two micro-environmental factors: the use of carpet and paint. This study confirmed that indoor VOCs and HCHO levels were significantly higher than those in outdoor environments. These air pollutants were mainly emitted from indoor sources, such as carpet, paint, and construction materials at the ECCs in Korea.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Air Pollution, Indoor / adverse effects
  • Air Pollution, Indoor / analysis*
  • Environmental Monitoring*
  • Formaldehyde / adverse effects
  • Formaldehyde / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Republic of Korea
  • Volatile Organic Compounds / adverse effects
  • Volatile Organic Compounds / isolation & purification*

Substances

  • Volatile Organic Compounds
  • Formaldehyde

Grants and funding

The study was primarily supported by the Soonchunhyang University Research Fund, and JHC, HJP, YJO recevied a salary from Soonchunhyang University. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the 'author contributions' section. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to pulish, or preparation of the manuscript.