Few were known about presence of lower carbonyl compounds such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acetone in air of household refrigerators. This study aimed to investigate the factors determining the levels of the gases in the air. Field measurements were carried out for 25 domestic refrigerators, which were actually employed for volunteers’ daily life, using a passive sampler. Air concentrations of lower carbonyl compounds were determined by DNPH-HPLC methodology. The results showed emission sources of acetaldehyde and acetone were suggested to exist inside the refrigerators, and distributions of their concentration levels did not depend on specifications and ways of use of the refrigerators. Then, emissions of lower carbonyl compounds from individual food samples were investigated using a model refrigerator. The results suggested steady and/ or unsteady emissions from stored foods determines air concentrations of acetaldehyde and acetone in air of the household refrigerator.
