Current status of unregulated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor air from elementary schools, japan

Abstract

Unregulated VOCs were determined in air samples collected from indoor environment of 70 classrooms in elementary schools, Japan (2011-2013). Unregulated VOCs were detected in all the samples analyzed in this study. 2-ethyl-1-hexanol (2E1H) was the predominant compound and its concentration range was 0.75-160μg/m³. 2E1H was followed by glycol ethers (GEs: nd-250μg/m³) and Texanols (nd-150μg/m³). This result suggests ubiquitous presences of these chemicals in school indoor environment. Significant higher concentrations of 2E1H were found in computer rooms than lecture rooms and science rooms (p< 0.05). However, GEs concentrations did not show significant differences among those rooms. Exposure assessment was conducted using the Lowest concentration of interest (LCI) and the highest concentrations detected in this study. As results of this assessment, hazard index (HI) showed less than 1. On the other hand, concentration ranges of 2E1H in this study was comparable to those for the threshold for allergic symptom in previous studies. Concentration ranges of GEs in this study was also comparable to those showed allergic symptom in Swedish epidemiologic research.