2002 Volume 17 Issue 4 Pages 284-290
Recently, indoor air quality has been affected by a variety of chemicals, which are suspected to be the cause of sick building syndromes. In this study, the concentration of Formaldehyde (FA) in the indoor environments was investigated around our living conditions. The 84 locations were selected from various living environments such as homes, schools, bookstores, and cars in Kanazawa city. FA from 51/84 locations (60.7 %) detected more than 0.02 ppm whereas FA concentrations from 25/84 locations (29.8 %) detected more than 0.04 ppm. The results indicated that we have been exposed to FA on low-level and long-term basis. The guideline of FA concentration recommended by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Japan is 0.08 ppm. Laboratory experiments were also carried out on building materials (natural and plywood), building adhesive agents, furniture, and cigarette smoke. When heating was carried out in an unventilated room, FA concentration increased with time according to the rise in room temperature. Once ventilation was started FA concentration dropped immediately. FA concentrations in Japanese-style rooms indicated a lower value than that of European-style rooms. FA was emitted from building materials (wall, ceiling, and floor materials with adhesive agents) in both homes and buildings. Our life styles associated with heating-system, furniture and cigarette smoke, are also responsible for the emission of FA.
