Vluchtige organische stoffen In het binnenmilieu van woningen - Rivm

VII
The RIVM assessed indoor air concentrations with the use of the above-mentioned
data and a computer model. The results are shown with the table below.
Expected exceedances of air quality guidelines in small dwellings with poor
ventilation (contribution to annual average concentration in mg/m3)
Compound
benzene
styrene
toluene
xylene
acetone
formaldehyde
dichloromethane
1,1,1 -trichtoroethane
trichloroethylene
p-dichlorobenzene
Air quality
guideline
0.010
0.6
3
4.3
17.8
0.015
0.12(1)
1.7
11
1.9
4.5
1) averaging time 0.5 hour
Estimated leve I
wttfwut with
bulk bulk
application application
0.005
0.4
1
1
2
0.1
1
0.5
13
0.5
0.4
4
25
40
10
Expected
exceedance
in dwellings
. no
bulk appl.
bulk appl.
bulk appl.
no
yes
yes
bulk appl.
yes
no
no
As can be seen from the table, the air quality guidelines can be exceeded for
twnzene and formaldehyde without bulk application. When apllled in bulk the
concentrations can increase and exceed guidelines for styrene, toluene, xylene
and dichloromethane. Bulk application pertains to such products as carpet-glue,
paint, paint-remover.
Particulariy cosmetics will make a higher contribution to VOC levels when no
measures are taken. Hair spray is the most important product in this group, with an
increasing usage.
More accurate assessments of concentrations could be made if the manufacturers
would give more information about percentages of VOC in their products and if
more was known about how frequently products are used.
For a number of products considered here, alternatives without VOC are available.
The VOC emission can be reduced for a number of products by substituting the
aerosol in spray cans with spray pumps.
It would be advisable to take measures, as part of the policy on products, providing
for the manufacturer to be required to state exactly what is in a product.
Research on alternatives for VOC-containing products should consider the
cornplete life cycle of the product and take other environmental aspects in account
as well. Using a substitute with a low VOC emission but which contains
carcinogenic compounds or causes other environmental pollution during the
production process should be avoided.