VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS: GUIDELINES FROM THE AUSTRIAN WORKING GROUP ON INDOOR AIR

摘要

An indoor air working group at the Austrian Ministry of the Environment has developed guidelines for the evaluation of exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). Due to the variability in the composition of the VOC spectrum and diverse effects of different components, a procedure has been recommended based on specified ranges of VOC concentrations, derived from characteristic indoor levels and evaluation of effects observed in epidemiological and experimental studies. Broad ranges take the limited evidence about the impact of VOC into account as well as the uncertainty resulting from sampling and analytical procedure. Furthermore, in contrast to single air pollutants for which exposure standards can be derived, rather an integrated situation dependent evaluation is advocated: Assessment of VOC mixtures requires a case by case analysis that should include considerations of specific compounds, observed reactions and health problems in exposed individuals.