Study On Indoor Air Pollution And Its Effects In Newly Decorated Rooms

Objectives To explore the indoor air pollution and its health effects of formaldehyde and BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes isomers) in the decorative materials in newly decorated rooms. Methods An epidemiological investigation on the "sick building syndrome" was carried out among 616 residents in 351 apartments from 6 parts of Taiyuan city. At the same time, 95 sampling apartments newly decorated within 2 years and 20 apartments decorated over 5 years among 351 apartments were selected to determine the concentration of seven main organic volatile compounds (formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and o-xylene, m-xylene, para-xylene). According to the completed time, ornament group was divided into 5 groups(3 month group, 3-6month group, 6-9month, 9-12month group, 12-24month group). The concentration of formaldehyde determined with Acetylacetone spectrophotometric method and BTEX with GC method. Results l.The mean concentrations of formaldehyde and BTEX in indoor air in decorated rooms were 0.139mg/m3, 0.163mg/m3, 0.294mg/m3, 0.325mg/m3, 0.152mg/m3,and they were significantly higher than those in control rooms. The over standard rates of formaldehyde and BTEX concentration (except ethylbenzene) in decorated rooms were 69.5%~80%, and the highest was formaldehyde. 2. The levels of formaldehyde, benzene, toluene and xylenes isomers in indoor air decrease apparently with the prolongation of the duration after the end of the decoration, and the concentration was the highest in rooms that were decorated in 3 months. The mean concentrations were 0.297mg/m3, 0.391mg/m3, 0.535mg/m3, 0.594mg/m3, and exceeded their related sanitary standards more than 2.71 times, 2.56times, 1.68times, 1.97times respectively. 3.The concentrations were decreased to the national hygienic standard after a period which was respectively, formaldehyde and xylenes isomers 1 year, benzene and toluene 9 months. But the concentration of ethylbenzene was decreased fast within 6 months, the difference was not significant between 0.5 year and 2 years. The concentration was higher than the control groups within 2 years after decoration. 4. There were different degree of sick building syndrome in residents, and the subjective sensations when moving in were more serious than investigating. The main symptoms were eye stimulant, throat stimulant, nose stimulant, smell, dizzy and skin itch etc. And the rates of these symptoms showed a decreasing trend with the prolongation of time after decoration, especially eyes stimulant symptom (within 3 months decreased to 32.2%, after 1 year to 9.1%).5. The sequence of main factors on adverse reaction marks was artificial board furniture, ventilating time, temperature, plywood arid completed time.6. The adverse reaction marks was positive correlated with the concentrations and negative correlated with completed time. The concentrations were negative correlated with completed time. The concentrations among these pollutants were positive correlation. Conclusion The decoration can pollute the air in door and decorative materials have harmful effects on the health of residents. To take steps can control the concentrations of pollutants in air in door and more studies should be operated in this field. Monitoring, legislation and setting standard on decorative materials should be strengthened according to hygiene laws.