Indoor air pollutants determinants in modern office buildings - the OFFICAIR project

摘要

Objective. The aim of this study was to define the determinants of aldehyde and volatile organic compound (VOC) indoor concentrations in a sample of more than 140 modern office rooms, in the framework of the European Union OFFICAIR research project. Methods. A large field campaign was performed, which included (ⅰ) the air sampling of aldehydes and VOCs in 37 modern office buildings across 8 European countries in summer and winter, and (ⅱ) the collection of information on offices' characteristics via checklists. Linear mixed models for repeated measurements were applied to identify the main factors affecting the measured concentrations of selected indoor air pollutants. Results. Several correlations between aldehyde and VOC concentrations and structural or occupants' activity-related factors were defined. The aldehydes and VOCs determinants in modern office buildings include building and furnishing materials (floor covering, ceiling, furnishings), indoor climate characteristics (room temperature and relative humidity), the use of consumer products (e.g., cleaning and personal care products, office equipment), as well as the presence of outdoor sources in the proximity of the buildings (i.e. vehicular traffic). Results also showed that determinants of indoor air concentrations varied considerably among different type of pollutants. Conclusions. This study provided an up-to-date picture of the main environmental and behavioural factors affecting indoor concentrations of aldehydes and VOCs in European modern offices, and a global insight on the most common determinants of IAQ in modern office environments. This insight could be useful for the development of guidelines and recommendations for improving IAQ in office buildings - and thus reducing exposures of occupants - acting on the building design, construction and management, operation and cleaning services, and by modification of the individual activity patterns and to develop public health policies.