airfAQSExtra Laboratory Services Technical Update Volume 8 Issue 7

airfAQSExtra

Laboratory Services Technical Update
Volume 8 Issue 7

Cleaning Materials and Processes Contribute VOC's to Indoor Air

The presence of volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) in the indoor air may result in irritation and odor complaints among occupants. Typical complaints resulting from VOC exposure may include headache, eye, nose and throat irritation, and dizziness. Although VOC’s can result from a variety of indoor products, cleaning processes have been identified as frequent sources of volatile organic compounds and odors in homes, schools, and commercial facilities.
AQS recently compiled data from more than 500 indoor air surveys of homes, schools and commercial buildings. The data showed that cleaning compounds account for numerous airborne VOC’s and that many of these VOC’s may be irritants and odorants. Specific chemicals and potential sources include:

Chemical

Source

Limonene, pinene

orange and pine fragrances in cleaners

Isopentane

aerosol propellant in many cleaners

isopropanol

disinfectants

Phenol and creosois

disinfectants

Butoxyethanol

surface cleaners

Trichloroethylne

textile spot cleaners

1,4 dichlorobenzene

deodorizers

undecane

surface wax

formaldehyde

fungicide

decamethylpentasiloxane

waxes, surface shiner

Using low-emitting products and ensuring that adequate ventilation is provided during application can assure control of these chemicals. Ventilation will assist in diluting and flushing out the chemicals. The use of low-emitting products, however, will reduce the overall load of VOC’s and provide the best source control.
In many buildings, cleaning materials are used at times when the ventilation is turned off. This results in higher levels of VOC’s in the building and the potential for secondary contamination of other materials. Carpets, ceiling tile, insulation and wallboard are all absorptive and collect the VOC’s released by cleaning materials and processes.
For more information on tow-emitting materials and indoor air quality, visit www.aerias.org and www.greenguard.org. To order sampling supplies and VOC analyses for your indoor air studies, contact AQS's Laboratory Services Group at 770-9330638, ext. 252.