Temporal fluctuations of formaldehyde levels inside residences

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6100516

Gammage, R B; Hingerty, B E; Matthews, T G; Hawthorne, A R; Womack, D R; Westley, R R; Gupta, K C

Excursions in the levels of formaldehyde were measured inside three houses. These were a 10-y-old home, a 3 y-old home prefitted with urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI), and a 2-y-old energy-efficient home. Measurements of formaldehyde were made using active and passive air-sampling devices with subsequent colorimetric analysis by the pararosaniline procedure. The variation of diurnal formaldehyde concentrations inside each house varied by up to a factor of two. Over the course of a year, the formaldehyde concentration within the 3-y-old UFFI house varied by an order of magnitude. These changes appeared to correlate with factors such as changes in the temperature, weather, and occupant activity. Inside the 2-y-old house the effects on formaldehyde levels of increased ventilation rate and the operation of a small charcoal-based air cleaner were studied. The results suggest that formaldehyde levels were not inversely proportional to the air exchange rate and that the air cleaner tested were ineffective.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 6100516
• Report Number(s): CONF-830338-4; ON: DE83009788
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
ALDEHYDES
BUILDINGS
DATA
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FORMALDEHYDE
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INFORMATION
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
THERMAL INSULATION
VARIATIONS
VENTILATION
WOOD