Concentrations and Strengths of Formaldehyde and Acetaldehyde in Office Buildings in Bangkok, Thailand

Exposure to aldehydes can have adverse health effects. Formaldehyde, the most abundant airborne aldehyde, is also a human carcinogen. This study investigated concentrations and strengths of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in 12 office buildings in Bangkok, Thailand. Sampling was conducted during March and April 2008. Air samples were collected at ∼0.7—0.9 L · min—1 using cartridges filled with dinitrophenylhydrazine coated silica gel. The cartridge incorporated an ozone scrubber to prevent aldehyde losses on the silica gel surface. Samples were then desorbed by acetonitrile and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Air exchange rates were estimated from the difference between indoor and outdoor carbon dioxide levels. A one-compartment mass balance model was used to estimate indoor source strengths. Results showed that the mean indoor concentrations of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were 35.5 and 17.1 μg · m–3 respectively, while the outdoor concentra- tions were 10.1 and 7.9 μg · m–3, respectively. The estimated mean indoor strengths of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were 15.3 and 5.8 mg · h–1, respect- ively. Indoor–outdoor (I/O) relationships showed that the I/O ratios were 3.5 for formaldehyde and 5.7 for acetaldehyde, suggesting that indoor sources are more important contributors to the indoor levels than outdoor sources such as infiltration of vehicle exhaust.

[1]  B. Turpin,et al.  Estimating contributions of indoor and outdoor sources to indoor carbonyl concentrations in three urban areas of the United States , 2006 .

[2]  K. Ho,et al.  Characteristics of carbonyls: Concentrations and source strengths for indoor and outdoor residential microenvironments in China , 2007 .

[3]  J. Lewtas,et al.  Characterization of environmental tobacco smoke , 1989 .

[4]  Yanli Feng,et al.  Indoor and outdoor carbonyl compounds in the hotel ballrooms in Guangzhou, China , 2004 .

[5]  B. Clarisse,et al.  Indoor aldehydes: measurement of contamination levels and identification of their determinants in Paris dwellings. , 2003, Environmental research.

[6]  E. Grosjean,et al.  Carbonyl Collection Efficiency of the DNPH-Coated C18 Cartridge in Dry Air and in Humid Air , 1996 .

[7]  Joseph Khedari,et al.  Thermal comfort standards for air conditioned buildings in hot and humid Thailand considering additional factors of acclimatization and education level , 2005 .

[8]  S. Mentese,et al.  Variations and Sources of Formaldehyde Levels in Residential Indoor Air in Ankara, Turkey , 2006 .

[9]  Bruce A. Tomkins,et al.  The chemistry of environmental tobacco smoke , 1992 .

[10]  Thad Godish,et al.  Indoor Air Pollution Control , 2019 .

[11]  W W Nazaroff,et al.  Mathematical modeling of chemically reactive pollutants in indoor air. , 1986, Environmental science & technology.

[12]  Anthony J. Hayter,et al.  Probability and statistics for engineers and scientists , 1996 .

[13]  W. Nazaroff,et al.  The rate of ozone uptake on carpet: mathematical modeling , 2002 .

[14]  R. N. Dietz,et al.  Air change rate and concentration of formaldehyde in residential indoor air , 2008 .

[15]  W. T. Davis,et al.  Air Pollution: Its Origin and Control , 1976 .

[16]  Panwadee Suwattigaa,et al.  Seasonal Source Apportionment of Volatile Organic Compounds in Bangkok Ambient Air , 2005 .

[17]  I. Rosas,et al.  Carbonyl levels in indoor and outdoor air in Mexico City and Xalapa, Mexico. , 2003, The Science of the total environment.

[18]  Sumin Kim,et al.  Environment-friendly adhesives for surface bonding of wood-based flooring using natural tannin to reduce formaldehyde and TVOC emission. , 2009, Bioresource technology.

[19]  Mamdouh I. Khoder,et al.  Formaldehyde and Aromatic Volatile Hydrocarbons in the Indoor Air of Egyptian Office Buildings , 2006 .

[20]  William J. Fisk,et al.  Effect of outside air ventilation rate on volatile organic compound concentrations in a call center , 2003 .

[21]  William W. Nazaroff,et al.  Cleaning products and air fresheners: exposure to primary and secondary air pollutants , 2004 .

[22]  M. Possanzini,et al.  Performance of a 2,4-DNPH coated annular denuder/HPLC system for formaldehyde monitoring in air , 1999 .