Abstract
The effect of intermittent bake-outs on the reduction of chemical pollutants in indoor air was studied in three public institutions in Hamamatsu. Using air conditioners the buildings were intermittently baked out over a two-week period following renovations or new construction. Among the seven substances measured, the concentration of acetaldehyde in all three buildings and of toluene in a newly-built building exceed the guideline values for indoor air established by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. However, the concentrations were reduced below the guideline values using the bake-out process. Acetaldehyde was reduced by 66.2%-71.6% and toluene by 77.8%-91.0%. We think that intermittent bake-out is a practical process for reducing indoor air pollutants in newly-built and remodeled buildings, one which the staffs of public institutions can carry out easily during office hours.
