Volatile organic compounds and building bake-out

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · State Art Reviews in Occupational Medicine; (USA)

OSTI ID:6984818

Girman, J R ^[1]

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1. California Department of Health Services, Berkeley (USA)

VOCs are generally present in indoor air at concentrations greater than, and not infrequently much greater than, those of outdoor air. These VOCs cover a broad spectrum of compounds, ranging from about 20 to several hundred in any given sample of indoor air. However, the concentrations observed in nonindustrial indoor air samples are generally much lower than occupational health standards. Still, the sources of VOCs indoors are varied and ubiquitous, and the health effects of exposure to VOC are varied and range from irritant effects associated with SBS, to carcinogenic and reproductive effects. A recent study of the health effects of exposure to low concentrations of VOCs has produced surprising results and insight into some of the more subtle health effects. However, additional study is needed to confirm these effects. Many general techniques for mitigating exposures to VOCs are available; the difficulty lies in obtaining the specific information necessary to apply these techniques effectively to a given problem. In some cases this information relates to diagnostics, either to the cause of particular symptoms in individuals or about the particular source or sources of VOCs. In other cases, this information is related to the application and efficacy of a particular mitigation technique for a particular problem. Bake-out is a promising technique for reducing exposures to VOCs in new office buildings. However, further effort in delineating its utility is necessary before it can be recommended.34 references.

• OSTI ID: 6984818
• Journal Information: State Art Reviews in Occupational Medicine; (USA), Journal Name: State Art Reviews in Occupational Medicine; (USA) Vol. 4:4; ISSN SAOME; ISSN 0885-114X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
AIR QUALITY
ANIMALS
BUILDINGS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
MAMMALS
MAN
MATTER
MITIGATION
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
OFFICE BUILDINGS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
REVIEWS
VERTEBRATES
VOLATILE MATTER