Characterization of volatile organic compounds in indoor environment

Abstract

Background: The main indoor air pollutants are benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, naphthalene, nitrogen dioxide, polycyclic hydrocarbons, radon, trichlorethylene, and tetrachlorethylene, and among these substances, benzene, formaldehyde, radon, and trichlorethylene are considered particularly harmful to human health. Although indoor pollutants including PM2.5 particles, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide have been measured in indoor environments namely as gers, apartments, and houses, relatively few studies have been conducted to determine the concentration of VOCs in Ulaanbaatar city. Aim: We randomly recruited 180 households to measure VOCs in households of Chingeltei and Bayangol districts. Materials and Methods: Area sampling method was used to measure the concentration of volatile organic compounds. Total 136 samples out of 180 households had been analyzed for volatile organic compounds due to its limit of detection. Results: Taking into account household type, benzene concentration was measured highest in apartments (p<0.0022). In addition, the highest benzene concentration was measured in family health groups (0.284 µg/m3) whereas the lowest amount was observed in houses (0.004 µg/m3). There was a statistically significant difference (p<0.0046) among household room type, which was measured highest in the kitchen (0.072 µg/m3). Conclusion: 1. We found the excessive risk of having leukemia due to the high amount of benzene concentration in the recruited households. 2. Benzene concentration was differed by room types of the households and significantly correlated with air humidity among the micro-climate indicators.