Abstract
The potential emission of chemicals from expanded polystyrene, which is commonly used as insulation in houses, was investigated. Two types of polystyrene were dissolved with toluene and limonene, and the emitted chemicals were analyzed by TD-GC/MS. Emissions of styrene monomer and expanding agents (i. e. pentane, dichloroethane, and 1-chloro-1, 1-difluoroethane) were confirmed irrespective of solvents or reaction time. The results suggested that these chemicals were residues contained within the expanded polystyrene, not products from the reaction between the polystyrene and the solvents. The maximum styrene monomer content was 5.07×10-2-2 wt.%. If the emission of styrene monomer residues from expanded polystyrene used as insulation were to occur at a constant rate for 30 years, the estimated indoor steady state concentration would be 10.1μg/m3.
