| Abstract = The
emissions of two critical VOCs from five building products (BPs) were measured
in the FLEC up to 250 days. The BPs (VOCs selected on the basis of low
human odor thresholds and abundance) were: nylon carpet with latex backing
(2-ethylhexanol, 4-phenylcyclohexene), PVC flooring (2-ethylhexanol, phenol),
floor varnish on pretreated beechwood parquet (butyl acetate, N-methylpyrrolidone),
sealant (hexane, 3,7-dimethyloctanol), and waterborne wall paint on gypsum
board (1,2-propandiol, Texanol). Ten different experimental conditions
were tested: four different air velocities (1, 2, 5, ca. 9 cm/s), three
different temperatures (23, 35 and 60 C), two different rel. humidifies
(0 and 50% RH), and nitrogen instead of air. Additionally, two sample specimen
and two different batches were compared for repeatability and homogeneity.
Primary emissions were not affected by the air velocity after a few days
to any great extent. Secondary (oxidative) emissions were observed depending
on the type of BP and VOC. Both the temperature and rel. humidity affected
the emissions depending on the type of BP and type of VOC. Anaerobic emission
test conditions may provide more "true" emission rates for susceptible
BPs. The time value concept, as used in the Danish labeling scheme, appears
to be a good approach for interlaboratory comparison experiments. |