scholarly journals Impact of Air-Purifying Plants on the Reduction of Volatile Organic Compounds in the Indoor Hot Desert Climate

2022 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nahla Al Qassimi ◽  
Chuloh Jung
Keyword(s):  
Volatile Organic Compounds ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Sick Building Syndrome ◽  
Ficus Benjamina ◽  
Indoor Space ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
Reduction Effect ◽  
Desert Climate

Due to hot desert weather, residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) spend 90% of their time indoors, and the interior environment of the newly built apartments with inappropriate material and ventilation is causing sick building syndrome (SBS), faster than in any other country. NASA studies on indoor air pollutants indicate that the usage of 15–18 air-purifying plants in 18–24 cm diameter containers can clean the air in an average 167.2 m2 house (approximately one plant per 9.2 m2). This study investigates the effect of three different types of air-purifying plants, Pachira aquatica, Ficus benjamina, and Aglaonema commutatum, in reducing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde (CH2O) in hot desert climate. An experiment is performed in which the CH2O and VOCs concentrations are measured in two laboratory spaces (Room 1 and Room 2). Different volumes (5 and 10% of the laboratory volume) of target plants are installed in Room 1, whereas Room 2 is measured under the same conditions without plants for comparison. The results show that the greater the planting volume (10%), the greater is the reduction effect of each VOCs. In summer in hot desert climate, the initial concentration (800 µg/cm3) of CH2O and VOCs is higher, and the reduction amount is higher (534.5 µg/cm3) as well. The reduction amount of CH2O and toluene (C7H8) is particularly high. In the case of C7H8, the reduction amount (45.9 µg/cm3) is higher in summer with Aglaonema commutatum and Ficus benjamina. It is statistically proven that Ficus benjamina is most effective in reducing CH2O and C7H8 in an indoor space in hot desert climate. The findings of this study can serve as basic data for further improving the indoor air quality using only air-purifying plants in hot desert climate of the United Arab Emirates.

scholarly journals Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from Wood and Wood-Based Panels: Methods for Evaluation, Potential Health Risks, and Mitigation

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tereza Adamová ◽  
Jaromír Hradecký ◽  
Miloš Pánek
Keyword(s):  
Volatile Organic Compounds ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Sick Building Syndrome ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Analytical Determination ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
The Impact

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are contained in various construction materials and interior equipment. Their higher concentrations in the indoor air are associated with negative effects on human health and are disputed in terms of health risk, since people spend a considerable part of their lifetime indoors. Therefore, the presence of VOCs in indoor air is a case of concern regarding sick building syndrome (SBS). From a historical point of view, wood and wood-based panels represent a widely used material. Nevertheless, wood appears to be nowadays a product and a material of a sustainable future. Depending on wood extractives’ composition and an abundance of diverse wood species, different profiles of volatiles are emitted. In case of wood-based panels, the impact of adhesives and additives that are essentially applied aiming to adjust the panels’ properties is even enriching this cocktail of chemicals. This paper comprises the issue of VOCs emitted from wood and wood-based panels. The most abundant VOCs were summarized. The options of VOCs for analytical determination from these matrixes are described with their benefits and limitations.

scholarly journals Experimental Studies on TVOC Concentrations and their Relationships with Indoor Comfort Parameters

2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (12) ◽  
pp. 4145-4152
Keyword(s):  
Volatile Organic Compounds ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Sick Building Syndrome ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
Comfort Parameters ◽  
Indoor Comfort

Indoor air quality (IAQ) remains a very important issue because it can significantly affect people’s health, comfort and productivity. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) comprise an important group of chemicals that are commonly present in indoor air. They are related to the sick building syndrome (SBS) and exposure to VOCs is of considerable concern due to their potential chronic and acute health outcomes which includes eye irritation, nose and throat discomfort, headache, allergic skin reaction, nausea, fatigue, or dizziness. Most of the times the effects of VOCs on human health are amplified by indoor conditions such as temperature and humidity. The paper presents the findings of the analysis of the relationship between total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) concentrations and their influencing factors like indoor comfort parameters (temperature and relative humidity) and the type of indoor spaces (offices, residential and educational). Keywords: TVOC concentrations, indoor comfort parameters, Pearson correlation coefficients

scholarly journals Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Emitted from Coated Furniture Units

Coatings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 806
Author(s):  
Ozge Cemiloglu Ulker ◽  
Onur Ulker ◽  
Salim Hiziroglu
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Volatile Organic Compounds ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Exposure Period ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
Significant Health

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the main source influencing the overall air quality of an environment. It is a well-known fact that coated furniture units, in the form of paints and varnishes, emit VOCs, reducing the air quality and resulting in significant health problems. Exposure time to such compounds is also an important parameter regarding their possible health effects. Such issues also have a greater influence when the exposure period is extended. The main objective of this study was to review some of the important factors for the emission of VOCs from coated furniture, from the perspective of material characteristics, as well as health concerns. Some methods for controlling VOC emissions to improve indoor air quality, from the point of view recent regulations and suggestions, are also presented in this work.

Concentrations of Volatile Organic Compounds in Indoor Air - A Review

Indoor Air ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. K. Brown ◽  
M. R. Sim ◽  
M. J. Abramson ◽  
C. N. Gray
Keyword(s):  
Volatile Organic Compounds ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Volatile Organic
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