Explore peer-reviewed articles, conference papers and technical studies concerning material emissions, VOCs and indoor air quality. Original abstracts are reproduced only where reuse rights are documented; all other records contain a clearly marked, non-verbatim editorial summary. FLEC use labels are evidence-based.
220 publications34 publication years88 journals and sources
FLEC use is classified from the available abstract and source notes. “Not yet classified” means that the type of connection has not been established; it does not mean that FLEC is absent.
Azad Bahrami; Fariborz Haghighat; Jiping Zhu; Jianjun Niu
Atmospheric Environment
In: Atmospheric Environment, vol. 365, article 121651, 2026; published online 6 November 2025.
Editorial summary
This study examines how residence time influences gas-particle partitioning of phthalates on airborne inorganic particles under controlled conditions. It quantifies partition coefficients across ventilation-related residence times. FLEC is not used directly; the reference list cites the established FLEC airflow study for DEHP emissions from vinyl flooring.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the open-access publisher record and reference list.
The study evaluates hazardous chemical emissions from baby crawling mats and yoga mats, with particular attention to how placement orientation changes emissions and potential indoor exposure. FLEC enters the paper only through a cited earlier study of airflow-dependent DEHP emissions from vinyl flooring.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and reference list.
In: Energy and Built Environment, article in press, 2026.
Editorial summary
The paper presents a steady-state inter-phase partitioning model for rapidly prioritising indoor exposure risks from semi-volatile organic compounds. FLEC appears through a cited study of DEHP emission from vinyl flooring rather than as equipment used in the reported modelling work.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and reference list.
The study models how PFAS contained in architectural coatings move through the United States residential-building stock and are released over time. Its results emphasise that long service lives can shift substantial releases into future demolition and waste-management stages; FLEC occurs only in a cited PVC-flooring emission study.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher record and open full text.
Carrasco-Navarro, Victor; Kukkola, Anna T.; Kukkonen, Jussi V. K.
Circular Plastics Economy
In: Circular Plastics Economy, Chapter 2, pp. 31–70, 2026.
Editorial summary
This book chapter reviews additives used in plastics, their migration into environmental media and the risks that may follow. FLEC is present only in a bibliographic citation to an earlier DEHP-emission experiment with FLEC and CLIMPAQ.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the Elsevier chapter record and reference list.
The study applies nonlinear regression and machine-learning techniques to predict formaldehyde emissions from wood-based panels bonded with amino resins. FLEC appears in a cited comparison of formaldehyde measurements made with an emission cell and a chamber, not as the authors' measurement device.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and reference list.
In: Indoor and Built Environment, OnlineFirst, 2026.
Editorial summary
The article investigates how painting and underlying substrate materials influence indoor concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes. Its FLEC connection is a cited prior study of VOC mass transfer from paint in a standard emission cell.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the SAGE record and its indexed reference context.
The paper investigates the source and mechanism of short-lived VOC release pulses associated with air-conditioning operation. FLEC is not part of the reported setup; it appears in a reference to prior work on temperature-dependent DEHP emissions from PVC flooring.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the ACS publisher record and reference list.
The study characterises VOC contamination retained on indoor surfaces after the 2025 Los Angeles fires. The discussion compares its observations with values from earlier FLEC-cell and whole-building studies, but the authors did not use FLEC for their own sampling.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the ACS record and the publicly available manuscript.
The paper estimates equilibrium partition coefficients for semi-volatile organic compounds between indoor surfaces and air using two experimental approaches. FLEC appears through a cited comparison of VOC sorption measurements in FLEC and CLIMPAQ, not as one of the two methods newly applied here.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and reference list.
The study examines how temperature-dependent partition coefficients may alter indoor SVOC distributions under future climate conditions. Earlier FLEC studies of DEHP emissions are cited as background, but FLEC is not used in the reported modelling analysis.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the ACS publisher record and references.
Rey-Álvarez, Belén; Sánchez-Montañés, Benito; García-Martínez, Antonio
The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment
In: The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, vol. 31, article 131, 2026.
Editorial summary
The article proposes a way to incorporate toxic emissions from building materials during the use stage into building life-cycle assessment. It draws on two earlier FLEC studies of DEHP emission from PVC flooring, but the new methodology does not involve FLEC measurements.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the Springer full text and reference list.
This US EPA evidence-evaluation document supports the TSCA risk evaluation for 1,2-dichloroethane. A study-assessment table records an underlying emissions experiment that used a Field and Laboratory Emission Cell, but the EPA review itself did not perform that experiment.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the official EPA report.
In: Building and Environment, article 115076, 2026.
Abstract
Bio-based insulation materials contribute to building decarbonization and good hygrothermal performance. However, in humid conditions, they can promote fungal growth and the emission of mVOCs, affecting indoor air quality. The aim of this study is to assess the influence of aging on the susceptibility of bio-based materials to promote fungal growth and VOC emissions, and to investigate potential mVOC emissions. To this end, a hemp-flax-cotton insulation material was subjected to a 3-month accelerated aging process under alternating humidity cycles. The material was exposed to weekly dry (11 ± 4%) and humid (60 ± 2%) conditions at 25 ± 0.8 °C. Results showed strong fungal proliferation on both native and aged materials, with spore concentration reaching 100–1000 times the initial inoculum. The material was identified as very low VOC emitter in its native state. Aging did not significantly modify the overall VOC emission profile. During 30 days of incubation, emissions of 74 VOCs decreased, whereas 10 newly detected compounds (1–13 µg m−2 h−1) appeared between days 7 and 9, peaked on day 9, and then progressively declined, suggesting fungal metabolic degradation of the material.
Verbatim author abstract reproduced from the publisher record under CC BY 4.0.
On-site semi-volatile organic compound (SVOC) source identification and gas-phase concentration at the material surface (y0) measurements are needed to model indoor exposure to harmful chemical additives emitted by building and furniture materials. The solid-phase microextraction (SPME)-based midget on-site emission cell (MOSEC) method is a passive device developed to address these needs. However, converting the sampled SVOC amount into the gas-phase concentration in the MOSEC is the critical step because an atmosphere with a known SVOC gas-phase concentration is required to calibrate the method. In this work, an experimental setup was designed to generate atmospheres containing SVOCs. These atmospheres were transferred to a MOSEC. By design, the MOSEC could be isolated to perform passive SPME sampling. The analyte concentration was monitored by active sampling on sorbent tubes as a reference method. Calibration was then performed following Fick's first law of diffusion under steady state conditions: several SPME samplings of different exposure times were carried out in the MOSEC. The method was applied to the measurement of y0 of tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCPP), triphenyl phosphate (TPP), 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPP) and 1,2-cyclohexane-dicarboxylic acid, dinonyl ester (DINCH), emitted by a polyurethane (PU) foam and a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) furniture covering. The performance parameters of this method were also evaluated. The results agreed with y0 values previously reported and were close to y0 values obtained using vapor pressure-based empirical relationships proposed in the literature. This work provides a simple method to calibrate SPME passive sampling methods for low to very low volatility SVOCs in air.
Verbatim author abstract reproduced from the HAL manuscript under CC BY 4.0.
Various woods and wood-based materials are used as building products in constructions due to their numerous beneficial properties. As a potential source of emissions, they can thus have an impact on indoor air quality, such as other building products used indoors. For this reason, an understanding of the emissions of wood-containing products is important. Therefore, the following document describes the emission behaviour of solid wood and wood-based materials made from it. The main volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and their area-specific emission rates are shown and the factors influencing the emission behaviour are discussed. In addition, the temporal dynamics of the emissions are highlighted, which means that the emission rates always only represent a snapshot at a specific point in time. This makes it possible to compare the emission behaviour of the individual wood products. However, this does not necessarily allow the actual contribution of wood product emissions to indoor VOC concentrations to be assessed. This is decisively conditioned by the real installation situation of the product as well as the material interactions and climatic conditions within the room.
Verbatim author abstract reproduced from the official Thünen report under CC BY 4.0.
Leivo, Virpi; Sarlin, Essi; Suonketo, Jommi; Pikkuvirta, Jussa; Pentti, Matti
Journal of Building Physics
In: Journal of Building Physics, vol. 49, no. 5, pp. 738–753, 2026.
Abstract
In-situ cast concrete slabs with high moisture content and elevated pH levels (approximately pH 12.5) create optimal conditions for hydrolysis reactions, leading to the degradation of PVC flooring adhered to these slabs. To mitigate this issue, solutions identified in the 1990s include either installing floor coverings on sufficiently dry concrete (with a relative humidity limit of 85% as recommended by most floor covering manufacturers) or placing a layer of low-alkali material, typically a self-levelling screed, between the concrete slab and the floor covering. This paper presents a 5-year follow-up study on the degradation (measured by VOC emissions) of PVC floorings containing the contemporary plasticizer di(isononyl) cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH), installed under varying conditions of concrete relative humidity and the pH of the underlying material. The findings indicate that both the pH and the type of screed material significantly influence the degradation process and VOC emissions. Specifically, lower pH levels of the material in contact with the flooring result in reduced VOC emissions. The critical pH threshold is identified around pH 12; materials with higher pH levels lead to a substantial increase in emissions. Additionally, there are notable temporal variations in the occurrence of different emission compounds.
Verbatim author abstract reproduced from the SAGE article under CC BY 4.0.
The reuse of construction products is promoted as a strategy for reducing environmental impacts and consumption in construction. In indoor environments, reuse raises challenges related to hazardous chemical substances and the interpretation of regulatory obligations, for which legislation and practice provide limited guidance. These challenges are particularly pronounced when products originate from older buildings and lack material documentation. This study examines how chemical hazard assessment can be operationalised in the reuse of construction products in indoor environments in the Finnish context. The analysis focuses on concrete products originating from indoor conditions and combines regulatory and literature analysis, expert engagement and empirical analysis of chemical emission data. The results suggest that the relevance of hazardous substances in reuse is context-dependent and linked to exposure conditions, not solely to the presence of substances. Chemical safety can be assessed through a staged approach based on investigation practices, including building use history, demolition audits and targeted assessments, without routine laboratory testing. Empirical evidence from more than 1,300 concrete samples supports this interpretation, showing low emission levels. The findings suggest that chemical hazards do not appear to constitute a barrier to reuse in typical indoor environments but highlight the need for clearer, consistent regulatory interpretation.
Verbatim author abstract reproduced from the journal article under CC BY 4.0.
This study examines the transfer of chlorinated organophosphate ester flame retardants from furniture fabric to settled indoor dust during direct contact. The experimental results address material-to-dust transfer as a potential exposure pathway. FLEC was not used in the experiments; the article cites earlier FLEC and CLIMPAQ work on DEHP transfer from PVC flooring.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the open-access full text and reference list.
Tjaša Rijavec; Sonia Bujok; Sergii Antropov; G. Asher Newsome; Josep Grau-Bové; Irena Kralj Cigić; Krzysztof Kruczała; Łukasz Bratasz; Matija Strlič
Polymer Degradation and Stability
In: Polymer Degradation and Stability, vol. 235, article 111270, 2025.
Editorial summary
This study investigates how plasticizers migrate through and evaporate from historic PVC objects, combining material characterization with diffusion-evaporation analysis relevant to conservation. FLEC was not used in the reported experiments; the reference list cites the established FLEC airflow study of DEHP emission from vinyl flooring.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher record and reference list.
In: Current Research in Toxicology, vol. 9, article 100267, 2025.
Editorial summary
This review summarizes evidence linking phthalate exposure with epigenetic mechanisms and associated public-health outcomes. It covers exposure sources, biological pathways and research gaps. FLEC is not used in the review; a cited temperature study identifies the emission cell FLEC in its title.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the open-access full text and reference list.
In: Circular Economy and Sustainability, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 1369–1388, 2025; published online 20 December 2024.
Editorial summary
This review compares five product-design cases involving substances of concern and discusses strategies for substitution, information management and circular product design. FLEC is not used directly; the references include the temperature-dependent DEHP emission study conducted in the emission cell FLEC.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher full text and reference list.
Benoit Schmitt; Tamara Braish; Mélanie Nicolas; François Maupetit; Juan Rios Mora; Hervé Plaisance; Valérie Desauziers
Chemosphere
In: Chemosphere, vol. 385, article 144564, 2025.
Editorial summary
This study develops a temperature-dependent micro-chamber method for estimating equilibrium gas-phase concentrations of SVOCs at material surfaces, using phthalates emitted from vinyl flooring as test compounds. The authors discuss FLEC data as a comparison and cite the FLEC airflow study, but the new measurements use a micro-chamber rather than FLEC.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher record, full-text evidence and reference list.
PhD thesis, Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, 2025.
Editorial summary
This doctoral thesis investigates how ventilation, particle size and competitive adsorption affect phthalate gas-particle partitioning in indoor environments. The literature review defines the Field and Laboratory Emission Cell, describes earlier FLEC temperature experiments and cites both temperature- and airflow-dependent FLEC studies; the thesis's own experiments use a mixing chamber.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the university repository record and accessible thesis text.
In: Science of the Total Environment, vol. 972, article 179080, 2025.
Editorial summary
This systematic review synthesises evidence on sources and concentrations of plasticisers in European indoor environments. FLEC appears in cited experimental literature, including a FLEC/CLIMPAQ comparison, rather than as a method newly applied by the review authors.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher and PubMed records and the reference list.
The study examines relationships between ventilation, temperature, humidity and phthalate concentrations in 327 bedrooms in Tianjin, using measured dust concentrations and estimated airborne levels. Ventilation and temperature show compound-dependent associations; FLEC appears only in the discussion of earlier DEHP-emission experiments.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher and PubMed abstracts and the article discussion.
Efficient and Enhanced Management of Plastic Waste in India
In: Efficient and Enhanced Management of Plastic Waste in India, pp. 49–88, 2025.
Editorial summary
This book chapter reviews chemicals associated with plastics and plastic waste, including their uses, release pathways and potential impacts. Two earlier DEHP studies involving the FLEC emission cell are present in the references, but FLEC is not a method used by the chapter authors.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the Springer chapter record and full reference list.
The study combines experiments and modelling to investigate chemicals of emerging concern emitted from water-based paints. FLEC is cited when the authors survey earlier approaches to paint-emission measurement, while their own experimental setup uses other methods.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the ACS and PubMed records and the indexed method context.
In: Building and Environment, vol. 271, article 112578, 2025.
Abstract
Off-gas emissions from engineered wood products (EWPs), primarily consisting of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), significantly affect indoor air quality (IAQ). Due to the volatility of VOCs, their presence at trace levels, and the complexity of EWP matrices, analysing these emissions is challenging and requires advanced, standardised methods for accurate results. Monitoring VOCs involves two main approaches: modelling and experimental examination, with the latter typically comprising three steps: emission generation, collection/extraction, and analysis. Most previous studies have focused on determining formaldehyde from EWPs, using small-scale laboratory methods such as the perforator, flask, desiccator, and gas analysis as well as advanced methods such as emission chambers and cells. Methods with equivalent sampling and testing conditions, for instance the chamber and the field and laboratory emission cell (FLEC) methods, show a good correlation (R² ≥ 0.7). In contrast, methods with differing conditions, like the perforator and the chamber methods show weak to negligible correlations (R² ≤ 0.4) at low formaldehyde emission levels (< 0.1 ppm). Small-scale laboratory methods show poor simulation of real-life indoor environmental conditions and mostly suitable for preliminary analysis. In contrast, emission test chambers and cells are good for long-term emission studies, which closely mimic these conditions. Each VOC sampling and assessing method has unique strengths and limitations, making method selection critical. This review provides a guide to help future researchers to select an appropriate method for determining VOCs from EWPs, avoiding the extensive evaluation of standardised methods.
Verbatim author abstract reproduced from the publisher record under CC BY 4.0.
In: Building Simulation, vol. 18, no. 8, pp. 2085–2092, 2025.
Editorial summary
The authors introduce an in-situ cylindrical chamber for estimating solid–gas interface concentrations of VOCs emitted by building materials. They assess its flow field, laboratory performance and a field application; FLEC is cited as an established emission-cell approach rather than used as the tested chamber.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the Springer/SciOpen publication records and reference context.
Wood-based panels are ubiquitous in our daily lives, both as building materials and as furnishing materials. Numerous studies have revealed that these materials emit volatile organic compounds, such as formaldehyde, into indoor air, which can be harmful to human health. These volatile organic compounds come both from the wood itself, more specifically cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, and from the resins used to bind the wood fibers or particles together. Today, new panels bonded with bio-based adhesives and binderless panels are emerging. The aim of this article is to highlight the importance of measuring VOC emissions from binderless wood-based panels, and more specifically, to identify the VOCs, originating from the wood and thermal transformation processes, likely to be emitted during the production of such panels, as well as how to sample them and measure their emissions. This work provides a useful approach to identifying and quantifying VOC emissions from these new materials. These methodologies should be applied more widely to gain knowledge about VOCs, which are relevant indicators for the development of environmentally friendly materials.
Verbatim author abstract reproduced from the MDPI article under CC BY 4.0.
In: Critical Reviews in Analytical Chemistry, vol. 54, no. 7, pp. 1895–1916, 2024.
Editorial summary
This review surveys approaches used to collect and analyse volatile organic compound emissions from consumer products. It includes a dedicated description of the Field and Laboratory Emission Cell, explaining its configuration, operation and usefulness for non-destructive in-situ sampling.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher full text.
Ranesi, Alessandra; Faria, Paulina; Veiga, Maria do Rosário; Gall, Elliott T.
Building and Environment
In: Building and Environment, vol. 254, article 111306, 2024.
Editorial summary
The study evaluates ozone deposition and both primary and ozone-generated emissions from coatings intended for healthier indoor environments. Its experiments use a custom chamber; FLEC appears in the discussion of earlier surface-cell work and related literature rather than as the apparatus used by the authors.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher record and publicly available manuscript.
Huynh, Han N.; Ditto, Jenna C.; Yu, Jie; Link, Michael F.; Poppendieck, Dustin; Farmer, Delphine K.; Vance, Marina E.; Abbatt, Jonathan P. D.
Atmospheric Environment
In: Atmospheric Environment, vol. 338, pp. 120817, 2024.
Editorial summary
The study measures emissions from a painted surface in a test house with a small stainless-steel flux chamber coupled to PTR-MS and compares the scaled results with whole-house emission estimates. The chamber is not a commercial FLEC, but its operating parameters are explicitly matched to those of FLEC and the paper evaluates this FLEC-derived surface-flux approach.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the NIST-hosted published article.
In: Chemosphere, pp. 143607, 2024, ISSN: 0045-6535.
Editorial summary
The study tests how reproducible VOC and SVOC emission-rate measurements are across decorative-material specimens and how several months of storage changes those emissions. The authors measured emissions from antifungal acrylic-paint specimens with a Field and Laboratory Emission Cell and analysed the samples chromatographically, finding lower variability in later campaigns and substantial compound-dependent declines during storage.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher and PubMed abstracts.
In the recent years, there has been an increased interest in indoor air quality in heritage environments, specifically in relation to volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These could originate from objects, furnishings, visitors and staff, as well as from olfactory exhibitions. This interest led to a number of studies investigating the “typical” emissions for diverse materials and their impact on the surrounding environment. The analysis of volatile compounds emitted by objects helps in the characterization of the material composition, its conservation history or its degradation processes. This contribution reviews how volatiles are emitted from objects and the commonly used sampling techniques for heritage science applications. A variety of methods are available, from bulk air sample collection to preconcentration using samplers. The commonly studied object types contributing to indoor VOCs are discussed. These include emissions from heritage objects, conservation products, furnishing materials and display cases. Furthermore, olfactory exhibitions are discussed in terms of indoor air quality. Finally, the findings are compared with the current guidelines on indoor volatile concentrations.
Verbatim author abstract reproduced from the MDPI article under CC BY 4.0.
Shaw, David R.; Carter, Toby J.; Davies, Helen L.; Harding-Smith, Ellen; Crocker, Elliott C.; Beel, Georgia; Wang, Zixu; Carslaw, Nicola
Geoscientific Model Development
In: Geoscientific Model Development, vol. 16, pp. 7411–7431, 2023.
Abstract
The Indoor CHEMical model in Python, INCHEM-Py, is an open-source and accessible box model for the simulation of the indoor atmosphere and is a refactor (rewrite of source code) and significant development of the INdoor Detailed Chemical Model (INDCM). INCHEM-Py creates and solves a system of coupled ordinary differential equations that include gas-phase chemistry, surface deposition, indoor–outdoor air change, indoor photolysis processes and gas-to-particle partitioning for three common terpenes. It is optimised for ease of installation and simple modification for inexperienced users, while also providing unfettered access to customise the physical and chemical processes for more advanced users. A detailed user manual is included with the model and updated with each version release. In this paper, INCHEM-Py v1.2 is introduced, and the modelled processes are described in detail, with benchmarking between simulated data and published experimental results presented, alongside discussion of the parameters and assumptions used. It is shown that INCHEM-Py achieves excellent agreement with measurements from an experimental campaign which investigate the effects of different surfaces on the concentrations of different indoor air pollutants. In addition, INCHEM-Py shows closer agreement to experimental data than INDCM. This is due to the increased functionality of INCHEM-Py to model additional processes, such as deposition-induced surface emissions. A comparative analysis with a similar zero-dimensional model, AtChem2, verifies the solution of the gas-phase chemistry. Published community use cases of INCHEM-Py are also presented to show the variety of applications for which this model is valuable to further our understanding of indoor air chemistry.
Verbatim author abstract reproduced from the journal article under CC BY 4.0.
Indoor surfaces play a key role in indoor chemistry, including modification of indoor oxidant concentrations. This study utilises the INdoor CHEmical Model in Python (INCHEM-Py) to investigate the impact of surface transformations and their impact on indoor gas-phase chemistry. INCHEM-Py has been developed to simulate the surface deposition of ozone and hydrogen peroxide onto nine and six individual surfaces respectively in a typical bedroom, kitchen and office for normal indoor concentrations in the absence of household activities. The results show that 91 to 96% of these oxidants are deposited onto indoor surfaces under our simulated conditions. In the bedroom, 38 to 44% of indoor ozone and hydrogen peroxide is deposited onto soft fabric surfaces, with 41 to 54% of ozone deposition occurring on plastic surfaces in the kitchen and office. Total indoor concentrations of straight-chained aldehydes (C1-C10) ranged from 4 to 5 ppb, with nonanal having the highest individual concentration (1.7, 1.6 and 1.5 ppb in the bedroom, kitchen and office respectively), primarily as a result of emissions from plastics following ozone deposition. Aldehyde concentrations following hydrogen peroxide deposition were often less than 0.01 ppb. Understanding how reactions and deposition on different indoor surfaces impact indoor air chemistry will enable internal surface selection with a view to improving overall indoor air quality.
Verbatim author abstract reproduced from the White Rose published-version record under CC BY 2.5.
ADEME research report, October 2023. HAL identifier: hal-05318299.
Editorial summary
The Q-Wash report investigates how drying laundry indoors changes hygrothermal comfort and pollutant concentrations in dwellings. Its experimental programme uses FLEC cells to test damp laundry as both a sink and a later source of volatile organic compounds.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the complete report deposited in HAL and the official ADEME record.
The paper develops a sampling chamber with very little internal wall area for simultaneous emission testing of diisocyanates and their corresponding diamines. FLEC and a modified FLEC cell appear in cited prior work, but the chamber evaluated in this study is a different design.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the SAGE journal record and reference list.
In: Building and Environment, vol. 229, pp. 109948, 2023, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
The study examines long-term uptake and chemical transformation of formaldehyde on lime–cement plaster under representative indoor-air conditions. A FLEC coupled to SIFT mass spectrometry was operated over 90 days, showing sustained formaldehyde removal and methanol formation consistent with a heterogeneous Cannizzaro reaction.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and HAL record.
In: Building and Environment, vol. 238, pp. 110312, 2023, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
The study measures seasonal and spatial variation in VOC surface emissions and indoor concentrations in a public building insulated with wood wool. FLEC cells were placed directly on building surfaces for the field measurements, revealing strong effects of surface location, orientation and seasonal hygrothermal conditions.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and HAL full text.
Bu, Subei; Wang, Yanling; Wang, Haiyan; Wang, Fang; Tan, Yufei
Energy and Buildings
In: Energy and Buildings, vol. 287, pp. 112982, 2023, ISSN: 0378-7788.
Editorial summary
The study develops a mechanistic model for the time-dependent distribution of DEHP among indoor air, airborne particles and settled dust under several ventilation configurations. It evaluates how air exchange, outdoor-air fraction and filtration affect gas- and particle-phase concentrations and equilibration.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract.
Volatile organic compounds are species of concern for indoor air quality. They are emitted from a wide range of indoor sources and in particular from construction materials. Industrialized wood-based panels made from various types of wood bonded with thermosetting adhesive resins have been shown to emit volatile organic compounds over months or even years mostly due to the petrochemical binders. Some studies have been conducted on binderless panels, but they mainly focused on the pressing parameters to be applied to optimize the panel characteristics. The aim of this research is to document the emissions from binderless panels and to access the volatile composition of wood processing through the molding of materials. For this purpose, binderless boards were manufactured from hardwoods, known to emit less than softwoods with different thermopressing temperatures and times. Emissions were studied by placing the materials in microchambers. Volatile organic compounds were then sampled and analyzed by various chromatographic methods. On the other hand, materials were pyrolyzed and then analyzed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The implemented protocols proved suitable for the determination of more than 40 organic compounds, among which are aldehydes, aromatics, furans and derivatives, and carboxylic acids.
Full author abstract reproduced verbatim from the publisher under CC BY 4.0.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 19, no. 13, article 8011, 2022.
Abstract
Phthalates are typical chemical pollutants in kindergarten classrooms since numerous artificial products (e.g., polyvinyl chloride (PVC) floorings, soft polymers and plastic toys) that might contain phthalates are widely distributed in kindergarten classrooms. Although Chinese preschool children spend a considerable amount of their waking hours (>8 h/day) in kindergartens, phthalate exposure in such indoor environment has not been given much attention. In this study, the mass fractions of six phthalates in twenty-six artificial products (fifteen flat decoration materials and eleven plastic toys) commonly found in Chinese kindergarten classrooms were measured. Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) was the most predominant compound in all materials. The emission characteristics of the DEHP from these materials were further investigated. The measured emission characteristics were used for predicting multi-phase DEHP concentrations in kindergarten classrooms by applying a mass transfer model. The modeled concentrations were comparable with those measured in the real environment, indicating that these products might be the major sources of DEHP in Chinese kindergarten classrooms. Preschool children’s exposure to DEHP was found to be 0.42 μg/kg/day in kindergartens under baseline conditions, accounting for 18% of the total exposure to DEHP in Chinese indoor environments.
Full author abstract reproduced verbatim from the publisher under CC BY 4.0.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 19, no. 20, article 13556, 2022.
Abstract
With increases in the time spent on indoor activities, the interests and technological demands regarding indoor air quality (IAQ) have also increased. Indoor air pollution is often caused by furniture or construction materials and chemical substances, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). As a way to remove such pollutants, efforts have been made to promote the management of indoor air quality through emission experiments. To conduct an experiment, such as the pollutant emission experiment involving substances harmful to the human body, a chamber to control various factors should be developed. By using such chambers, experimental variables can be minimized, quantitative analyses may be conducted, and the basic theory may be discussed. When the chamber is installed, it is not easy to change the existing installed conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to review feasibility with an accurate design. However, there is limited research on both how to quantitatively design the chamber and evaluate it. Therefore, this study investigates suitable chamber design methods and performance through ventilation performance evaluation to discuss potential development methods. In the chamber design step, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was performed to estimate the ventilation efficiency according to the inlet and outlet positions to develop an 8-m3 chamber. Next, a ventilation experiment was performed using the tracer gas method for the performance evaluation, while the chamber interior airflow was simulated based on the CFD analysis. In a ventilation experiment using a tracer gas, the variation in gas density leads to concentration imbalance; as a result of concentration imbalance at each point, errors may occur in ventilation efficiency depending on the measurement point, causing the accuracy of the performance evaluation to fall. An attempt was made to resolve this problem by performing the ventilation experiment with a ceiling fan. The result indicated that the performance evaluation could be conducted without altering ventilation efficiency, coinciding with the CFD analysis result. Furthermore, when the concentration field was examined according to time in the CFD analysis, uniform concentration of chamber interior air allowed the ventilation efficiency to be calculated irrespective of the measurement point. Based on the findings, this study suggests a quantitative method of performance evaluation with an experiment in an 8-m3 chamber and a concurrent CFD analysis.
Full author abstract reproduced verbatim from the publisher under CC BY 4.0.
In: Handbook of Indoor Air Quality, pp. 3–33, 2022.
Editorial summary
This handbook chapter traces the development of modern indoor-air science from the 1970s and relates major pollutant concerns, health effects, ventilation, measurement technology and modelling to the field's evolution. It closes by identifying continuing indoor-air challenges and future directions. FLEC appears through cited foundational and later FLEC/CLIMPAQ studies; the chapter does not report a new FLEC experiment.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the Springer chapter record and its reference list.
In: Environment International, vol. 160, article 107064, 2022. First published online in December 2021.
Editorial summary
The study develops an analytical model and hybrid optimisation method for estimating parameters that govern VOC and SVOC emissions from source and sink materials under ventilation. It evaluates the approach with furniture experiments and published datasets, and examines measurement uncertainty and temperature-dependent changes in emission behaviour. FLEC is present only through a cited DEHP-from-PVC-flooring study.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and article record; the publisher's CC BY-NC-ND licence is not commercially reusable.
A membrane-based enthalpy exchanger is a device used for heat and humidity recovery in ventilated buildings. The energy-saving potential of such a device is dependent on the parameters responsible for heat and moisture recovery. The trend is toward composite membranes, which are custom produced, and their parameters can be adjusted for a given application; therefore, the diffusion and sorption characteristics of such membranes are unknown. In order to obtain the values of the water vapor diffusivity of three investigated handmade membranes, a serial resistance model using a Field and Laboratory Emission Cell (FLEC) is proposed. Experiments were conducted to identify the resistance in each step of the moisture transfer process to extract the moisture diffusivity in the membranes. The calculated moisture diffusivities in the membranes were 8.99 × 10−12 (m2/s) for the membranes from cellulose acetate, 1.9 × 10−10 (m2/s) for the microporous PE/PUR membranes, and 1.53 × 10−11 (m2/s) for the PET/PUR microfibrous membranes. The obtained membrane diffusivities were then used in the proposed effectiveness-NTU-based model of an exchanger with a cross-flow arrangement to predict performance under various operating conditions. The results show that the highest latent effectiveness was found for the exchanger core made from the PE/PUR membrane and the lowest was for the one with the PE/PUR membrane core.
Full author abstract reproduced verbatim from the publisher under CC BY 4.0; the internally contradictory wording in its final sentence is retained as published.
In: Journal of Chromatography Open, vol. 2, pp. 100041, 2022, ISSN: 2772-3917.
Editorial summary
This review maps the analytical workflow for indoor emissions from building materials, human and biogenic activity, covering emission generation, sampling and instrumental analysis. It compares the uses, advantages and limitations of devices including emission test chambers and the Field and Laboratory Emission Cell, along with active and passive sampling and chromatographic or direct mass-spectrometric analysis. It reports no new FLEC measurement experiment.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and the publicly deposited article; the version-of-record CC BY-NC-ND licence is not commercially reusable.
In: Environment International, vol. 168, pp. 107451, 2022, ISSN: 0160-4120.
Editorial summary
This review evaluates methods for determining key VOC and SVOC emission parameters, including initial emittable concentration, diffusion and partition coefficients, and near-surface gas concentration. It compares method performance, datasets and the effects of temperature, humidity, loading and air exchange, and includes a comparison of values derived from CLIMPAQ and FLEC configurations. The authors do not report a new FLEC experiment.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and article text; the version-of-record CC BY-NC-ND licence is not commercially reusable.
In: Building and Environment, vol. 219, pp. 109259, 2022, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
This pilot study develops recycled-LDPE biocomposites containing plant-based residues as candidate laboratory reference materials for VOC-emission testing. The candidates were characterised by spectroscopy and calorimetry, while emissions were measured with a μ-CTE 250 microchamber under different conditioning temperatures and times. FLEC was not used in the experiment; it is identified as a possible future cell format in which such reference materials could be evaluated.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and publicly available accepted manuscript; the version-of-record CC BY-NC-ND licence is not commercially reusable.
In: Environment International, vol. 167, pp. 107440, 2022, ISSN: 0160-4120.
Editorial summary
This review retraces the development and competing definitions of total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), explains analytical and calculation approaches, and assesses appropriate and inappropriate applications of the sum parameter. It stresses that TVOC is not toxicologically based and is unsuitable as a stand-alone health or odour metric. FLEC appears in reviewed chamber/cell emission data rather than as a new experiment.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and article record; the version-of-record CC BY-NC-ND licence is not commercially reusable.
In: Science of The Total Environment, vol. 839, pp. 156201, 2022, ISSN: 0048-9697.
Abstract
One of the more important classes of potentially toxic indoor air chemicals are the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). However, due to a limited understanding of the relationships between indoor concentrations of individual VOCs and health outcomes, there are currently no universal health-based guideline values for VOCs within Europe including the UK. In this study, a systematic search was conducted designed to capture evidence on concentrations, emissions from indoor sources, and health effects for VOCs measured in European residences. We identified 65 individual VOCs, and the most commonly measured were aromatic hydrocarbons (14 chemicals), alkane hydrocarbons (9), aldehydes (8), aliphatic hydrocarbons (5), terpenes (6), chlorinated hydrocarbons (4), glycol and glycol ethers (3) and esters (2). The pathway of interest was inhalation and 8 individual aromatic hydrocarbons, 7 alkanes and 6 aldehydes were associated with respiratory health effects. Members of the chlorinated hydrocarbon family were associated with cardiovascular neurological and carcinogenic health effects and some were irritants as were esters and terpenes. Eight individual aromatic hydrocarbons, 7 alkanes and 6 aldehydes identified in European residences were associated with respiratory health effects. Of the 65 individual VOCs, 52 were from sources associated with building and construction materials (e.g. brick, wood products, adhesives and materials for flooring installation etc.), 41 were linked with consumer products (passive, electric and combustible air fresheners, hair sprays, deodorants) and 9 VOCs were associated with space heating, which may reflect the relatively small number of studies discussing emissions from this category of sources. A clear decrease in concentrations of formaldehyde was observed over the last few years, whilst acetone was found to be one of the most abundant but underreported species. A new approach based on the operational indoor air quality surveillance will both reveal trends in known VOCs and identify new compounds.
Full author abstract reproduced verbatim from the open-access version of record under CC BY 4.0.
Formaldehyde is considered as carcinogenic and is emitted from particleboards and plywood used in toy manufacturing. Currently, the flask method is frequently used in Europe for market surveillance purposes to assess formaldehyde release from toys, but its concordance to levels measured in emission test chambers is poor. Surveillance laboratories are unable to afford laborious and expensive emission chamber testing to comply with a new amendment of the European Toy Directive; they need an alternative method that can provide reliable results. Therefore, the application of miniaturised emission test chambers was tested. Comparisons between a 1 m3 emission test chamber and 44 mL microchambers with two particleboards over 28 days and between a 24 L desiccator chamber and the microchambers with three puzzle samples over 10 days resulted in a correlation coefficient r2 of 0.834 for formaldehyde at steady state. The correlation between the results obtained in microchambers vs. flask showed a high variability over 10 samples (r2: 0.145), thereby demonstrating the error-proneness of the flask method in comparison to methods carried out under ambient parameters. An exposure assessment was also performed for three toy puzzles: indoor formaldehyde concentrations caused by puzzles were not negligible (up to 8 µg/m3), especially when more conservative exposure scenarios were considered.
Full author abstract reproduced verbatim from the publisher under CC BY 4.0.
Recently, research has established a screening system comprising a combination of two technologies, the MEMS sensor and the field and laboratory emission cell (FLEC), to perform experiments. The aim of our study was to establish MEMS sensor field emission cell technology (MS-FECT) to measure the changes in the pollutant concentration of field emission cells. A building material emission database was created via an Internet of Things (IoT) in order to develop a MEMS sensor field emission modeling platform. On the basis of information of the building material emission database and decay models, the MS-FECT, IoT, indoor positioning system (Beacon), and cloud database are integrated in this system. The source of pollution was determined by sensing and data analysis to create a multidimensional map of pollution sources to determine air quality in order to monitor the location of pollutants and flow conditions in the long term to change the indoor air quality efficiently. Moreover, the results of this study will be helpful in house interior design, the maintenance of residents' health, and the reduction of carcinogenic threats.
Full author abstract reproduced verbatim from the publisher under CC BY 4.0.
Thevenet, F.; Verriele, M.; Harb, P.; Thlaijeh, S.; Brun, R.; Nicolas, M.; Angulo-Milhem, S.
Building and Environment
In: Building and Environment, vol. 188, 2021, ISSN: 03601323.
Editorial summary
This study quantified how representative indoor materials take up and later release limonene under typical indoor conditions using a FLEC-based experimental setup. Glazing showed little sink behaviour, whereas cotton fabric and gypsum board had much greater affinity and uptake capacity. The strong, partly irreversible uptake by the major sinks indicates that indoor surfaces can retain reactive terpenes and influence their later release and indoor chemistry.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and the publicly deposited manuscript in HAL.
The authors developed and calibrated a small static emission cell coupled to solid-phase microextraction for measuring gas-phase organophosphate flame-retardant concentrations immediately above a material surface. A polyurethane-foam generation system produced stable TCPP and TBP concentrations, enabling reproducible calibration and measurements that remained stable over more than 228 days. The method is intended to improve source characterization and exposure assessment for low-volatility indoor contaminants.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the Elsevier publisher abstract and the publicly deposited author manuscript in HAL.
Recently, tropospheric ozone has become a public health concern worldwide, along with the continuous battle against ambient fine particulate matter in countries like China. In this study, we investigate the impact of indoor ozone pollution using seven materials categorized as either wood-based panels or synthetic fibers, which were freely-stored in an office/lab environment. Most materials were considered as used and aged more than 1–2 years. An experimental apparatus was used to study ozone deposition and detect volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from the specimens when exposed to ozone at three concentration levels: <10, 100, and 300 ppb. A simplified model is proposed to discuss ventilation requirements based on a standard room. We found that the mean ozone deposition velocities from the seven materials ranged from 0.005 to 0.062 cm·s−1. Both the engineering wood and some of the synthetic fibers were, moreover, prone to ozone deposition. Second, 15 VOCs were found in the sampling air from a 24-VOC target list after ozone exposure. The emission rates of the VOCs from all seven materials were then determined. Third, when the ozone concentration in the outdoor air is not severely high, it is possible to use ventilation to maintain acceptable indoor air quality.
Full author abstract reproduced verbatim from the publisher under CC BY 4.0.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are contained in various construction materials and interior equipment. Their higher concentrations in the indoor air are associated with negative effects on human health and are disputed in terms of health risk, since people spend a considerable part of their lifetime indoors. Therefore, the presence of VOCs in indoor air is a case of concern regarding sick building syndrome (SBS). From a historical point of view, wood and wood-based panels represent a widely used material. Nevertheless, wood appears to be nowadays a product and a material of a sustainable future. Depending on wood extractives' composition and an abundance of diverse wood species, different profiles of volatiles are emitted. In case of wood-based panels, the impact of adhesives and additives that are essentially applied aiming to adjust the panels' properties is even enriching this cocktail of chemicals. This paper comprises the issue of VOCs emitted from wood and wood-based panels. The most abundant VOCs were summarized. The options of VOCs for analytical determination from these matrixes are described with their benefits and limitations.
Full author abstract reproduced verbatim from the publisher under CC BY 4.0.
In: European Journal of Wood and Wood Products, vol. 78, pp. 403–412, 2020.
Abstract
Tree bark is an interesting source for various building and furniture materials. It holds a high number of volatile components—resulting in emissions whose effects on building residents have to be considered. Spruce and larch barks were dried using different methods and prepared as loose particles and panels. The VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions after 3 and 14 days were measured in a small chamber using gas chromatography and coupled mass spectroscopy. The influence of bark type, drying method, hot pressing and time on the emissions was quantified. The total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) emissions from spruce bark were higher than those from larch bark. High-temperature treatment and time significantly decrease TVOC emissions from the investigated barks. Terpenes, aldehydes and acids were analysed in the emitting gases. The high temperatures whilst pressing panels are problematic due to furfural constitution. Its emissions and partly those of 2-octenal and acetic acid are relevant for present and upcoming evaluation schemes. Aldehydes are the critical substance when using bark in the interior and must be controlled in product development.
Full author abstract reproduced verbatim from the open-access article under CC BY 4.0.
This study used chamber experiments and mass-transfer analysis to examine how air exchange rate and air speed affect individual VOC emissions from particleboard. Increasing air exchange raised the measured formaldehyde emission rate, while air speed did not measurably affect the monitored VOCs; the compound-specific behaviour was consistent with the estimated partitioning and diffusion parameters. FLEC enters the paper only through cited earlier studies of FLEC flow and formaldehyde measurement performance.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the Elsevier publisher abstract and the publicly deposited accepted manuscript in HAL.
Eight commercially available insulation materials were tested in a continuous-flow reactor for primary VOC emissions, ozone reaction probabilities and secondary gas-phase byproduct yields. Cellulose and fiberglass were among the more ozone-reactive materials, and ozone exposure produced aldehydes, acetone and other products that differed from the primary emissions. The paper compares some findings with earlier FLEC-cell studies of solid wood but does not use FLEC in its own experiments.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the Royal Society of Chemistry article and its PubMed abstract.
Degrading 2-ethylhexyl-containing PVC floorings (eg DEHP-PVC floorings) and adhesives emit 2-ethylhexanol (2-EH) in the indoor air. The danger of flooring degradation comes from exposing occupants to harmful phthalates plasticisers (eg DEHP), but not from 2-EH as such. Since the EU banned the use of phthalates in sensitive applications, the market is shifting to use DEHP-free and alternative types of plasticisers in PVC products. However, data on emissions from DEHP-free PVC floorings are scarce. This study aimed at assessing the surface and bulk emissions of two DEHP-free PVC floorings over three years. The floorings were glued on the screed layer of concrete casts at 75%, 85%, and 95% RH. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were actively sampled using FLEC (surface emissions) and micro-chamber/thermal extractor (µ-CTE, bulk emissions) onto Tenax TA adsorbents and analyzed with TD-GC-MS. 2-EH, C9-alcohols, and total volatile organic compound (TVOC) emissions are reported. Emissions at 75% and 85% RH were similar. As expected, the highest emissions occurred at 95% RH. 2-EH emissions originated from the adhesive. Because the two DEHP-free floorings tested emitted C9-alcohols at all tested RH, it makes the detection of flooring degradation harder, particularly if the adhesive used does not emit 2-EH.
Full author abstract reproduced verbatim from the open-access article under CC BY 4.0.
In: Aerosol and Air Quality Research, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 602–622, 2018.
Editorial summary
This review surveys established and emerging passive air samplers for VOC monitoring, emphasizing their usefulness for long-term, remote, large-scale and personal-exposure measurements. It describes FLEC-SPME as a standard FLEC emission cell combined with an SPME fibre for rapid passive sampling and direct thermal desorption, and it includes the configuration in a comparative method table. The authors review the technique but do not report new FLEC measurements.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publicly available journal article; no explicit commercially reusable licence for this 2018 article was verified.
This review analyses how temperature, humidity, ventilation, airborne particles, source loading and indoor chemistry influence SVOC mass-transfer parameters and concentrations. It concludes that temperature affects all mass-transfer parameters, while humidity and ventilation change partitioning and emission in compound- and context-dependent ways, and it calls for combined-factor studies in real indoor environments. Prior FLEC studies of DEHP emissions from vinyl flooring are used as literature evidence, but the authors report no new FLEC measurements.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the Elsevier publisher abstract and searchable full-text evidence for the review's treatment of prior FLEC studies.
In: Science of The Total Environment, vol. 635, pp. 817 - 827, 2018, ISSN: 0048-9697.
Editorial summary
This global review compiles studies published from 2007 to 2017 on phthalates in air and dust, finding wide concentration variation and generally higher reported levels in developing countries. DEHP and DBP were the predominant compounds, while temperature, humidity, air exchange, building materials and maintenance were identified as important influences on indoor levels. FLEC occurs through citations to earlier FLEC emission studies rather than through any experiment conducted by the review authors.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the Elsevier publisher abstract and publisher-indexed reference information.
Thevenet, F; Debono, O; Rizk, M; Caron, F; Verriele, M; Locoge, N
Building and Environment
In: Building and Environment, vol. 137, pp. 138 - 146, 2018, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
This study compares how three gypsum boards take up toluene and formaldehyde under several indoor-relevant conditions. A FLEC-derived sorption procedure is used to determine partitioning coefficients and estimate useful uptake lifetimes, revealing strong effects of board formulation, VOC chemistry, the surface paper and humidity. The results indicate that sorptive gypsum boards still need improvement before they can make a substantial contribution to indoor-air quality.
Original editorial summary, not a verbatim abstract, based on the publisher abstract, indexed full text and the linked DOI record.
Formaldehyde has been discussed as a typical indoor pollutant for decades. To evaluate the current state-of-the-art in formaldehyde research and to identify the plethora of regulated and unregulated formaldehyde sources in indoor and outdoor spaces, an extensive literature search was carried out. The acquired data were analyzed with the aid of Monte-Carlo methods to calculate realistic formaldehyde concentration profiles and exposure scenarios under consideration of aging, source/sink behavior and diffusion effects. Average concentrations of formaldehyde are within 20–30 µg/m³ for European households under residential-typical conditions. The assumption of an average air exchange rate of 0.5 h−1 is also plausible. Formaldehyde emission rates of materials and products for indoor use are widely spread and range from non-detectable to > 1000 µg/h. However, processes like combustion, cleaning activities, operation of air purifiers and indoor chemistry were identified as temporary but relevant formaldehyde sources, which might cause high peak concentrations.
Full author abstract reproduced verbatim from the open-access article under CC BY 4.0.
In a low-energy classroom, the researchers measured VOC emissions and sorption for ten interior surfaces with FLEC units connected to online and offline analytical methods. The measurements identified 21 emitted compounds and supplied parameters for an indoor-air model; modeled profiles agreed with several measured VOCs, while surface sorption had limited influence during the field campaigns. FLEC served as the measurement tool rather than the subject of method development.
Original editorial summary, not a verbatim abstract, based on the publisher and PubMed records.
In: Building and Environment, vol. 128, pp. 180 - 189, 2018, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
The paper formulates an axisymmetric lattice-Boltzmann model for SVOC transport in a tube, including reversible wall adsorption and the effects of airflow. Simulations and experiments indicate that adsorption delays steady state, while airflow shortens equilibration and lowers the steady-state concentration. FLEC occurs in the discussion of earlier chamber-transport modeling rather than as the device modeled or used in this study.
Original editorial summary, not a verbatim abstract, based on the publisher abstract and indexed article text.
A long period grating (LPG) modified with a mesoporous film infused with a calixarene as a functional compound was employed for the detection of individual volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and their mixtures. The mesoporous film consisted of an inorganic part, SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs), along with an organic moiety of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) polycation PAH, which was finally infused with the functional compound, p-sulphanato calix[4]arene (CA[4]) or p-sulphanato calix[8]arene (CA[8]). The LPG sensor was designed to operate at the phase matching turning point to provide the highest sensitivity. The sensing mechanism is based on the measurement of the refractive index (RI) change induced by a complex of the VOCs with calixarene. The LPG, modified with a coating of 5 cycles of (SiO2 NPs/PAH) and infused with CA[4] or CA[8], was exposed to chloroform, benzene, toluene and acetone vapours. The British Standards test of the VOCs emissions from material (BS EN ISO 16000-9:2006) was used to test the LPG sensor performance.
Full author abstract reproduced verbatim from the open-access article under CC BY 4.0.
The researchers used a Field and Laboratory Emission Cell to quantify ozone deposition on cotton clothing and examine the kinetics of the ozone–fabric interaction. The work treats FLEC as the experimental measurement tool for a clothing material rather than as the object of method development.
Original editorial summary, not a verbatim abstract, based on the journal title, abstract and DOI record.
In: Building and Environment, vol. 125, pp. 339 - 347, 2017, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
The study tracks the equilibrium gas-phase source concentration of selected phthalates from PVC flooring and TCPP from polyurethane foam during outdoor exposure and controlled chamber storage. Higher-volatility compounds declined appreciably over 60 days, whereas DEHP changed little over that period but decreased over much longer aging. FLEC is invoked through an earlier cited FLEC study that motivated the time-dependence question, not as equipment in the reported experiments.
Original editorial summary, not a verbatim abstract, based on the publisher abstract and indexed source snippets.
In: TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, vol. 97, pp. 297 - 308, 2017, ISSN: 0165-9936.
Editorial summary
This review examines practical difficulties in estimating organic-compound emissions from indoor materials and contrasts dynamic ex-situ chambers with passive in-situ sampling devices. It discusses how device design, material morphology and reference-material limitations affect data quality. FLEC is covered as one of the reviewed emission-measurement approaches; the paper reports no new FLEC experiment.
Original editorial summary, not a verbatim abstract, based on the publisher review abstract and DOI record.
Cui, X; Mohan, B; Islam, M R; Chou, S K; Chua, K J
Energy Procedia
In: Energy Procedia, vol. 142, pp. 1874 - 1879, 2017, ISSN: 1876-6102, (Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Applied Energy).
Editorial summary
The authors evaluate a combined air-treatment system comprising oxygen production, ozone-based oxidation and air scrubbing for mechanically cooled buildings. Bench testing and energy analysis indicate that purification could permit lower outdoor-air intake and reduce cooling demand in a tropical climate. FLEC appears only through cited background on VOC emissions and mass transfer, not in the air-treatment experiments.
Original editorial summary, not a verbatim abstract, based on the open publisher page; the article's CC BY-NC-ND licence is not commercially reusable.
Knudsen, Sofie M; Gunnarsen, Lars; Madsen, Anne Mette
Building and Environment
In: Building and Environment, vol. 125, pp. 475 - 483, 2017, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
The study compares the inflammatory potential of low-concentration fungal aerosols generated from damp and dried, fungus-infested gypsum boards. The authors generated the aerosols from the test boards with a Particle Field and Laboratory Emission Cell (P-FLEC), collected them by filter or liquid impingement, and assessed them with an HL60 granulocyte assay. Both conditions produced inflammatory responses, with higher activity reported for aerosols from dried boards.
Original editorial summary, not a verbatim abstract, based on the publisher and institutional-repository records plus independent full-text indexing of the apparatus terms.
Knudsen, Sofie M; Gunnarsen, Lars; Madsen, Anne Mette
Building and Environment
In: Building and Environment, vol. 122, pp. 161 - 170, 2017, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
The researchers measured fungal release from contaminated gypsum boards while varying near-surface air velocity and sampling duration, and also surveyed fungal communities in five non-moisture-damaged homes. In the laboratory experiments, a specially designed Particle Field and Laboratory Emission Cell (P-FLEC) was placed on the gypsum boards to release and collect particles. Laboratory release depended on surface condition and airflow, while household species composition was associated with air-change rate and relative humidity.
Original editorial summary, not a verbatim abstract, based on the publisher and institutional-repository records plus public article text and independent full-text indexing of P-FLEC.
Cui, X; Mohan, B; Islam, M R; Chou, S K; Chua, K J
Energy Procedia
In: Energy Procedia, vol. 143, pp. 283 - 288, 2017, ISSN: 1876-6102, (Leveraging Energy Technologies and Policy Options for Low Carbon Cities).
Editorial summary
This conference paper evaluates an air-treatment system that combines ozone-based oxidation and air scrubbing with reduced outdoor-air intake for air-conditioned buildings in Singapore. The energy analysis predicts lower cooling demand and improved chiller efficiency while maintaining pollutant control. FLEC occurs only through a cited mass-transfer study and was not used in the reported system evaluation.
Original editorial summary, not a verbatim abstract, based on the open publisher page; the article's CC BY-NC-ND licence is not commercially reusable.
In: Jones, Dennis; Brischke, Christian (Ed.): Performance of Bio-based Building Materials, pp. 335 - 383, Woodhead Publishing, 2017, ISBN: 978-0-08-100982-6.
Editorial summary
This chapter reviews the in-service performance of bio-based construction materials, including factors that affect their behaviour and assessment in buildings. FLEC is listed among the in-situ techniques covered in that broader discussion, with no new FLEC experiment reported.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher chapter text and record; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
Curran, Katherine; Underhill, Mark; Gibson, Lorraine T.; Strlič, Matija
Microchemical Journal
In: Microchemical Journal, vol. 124, pp. 909–918, 2016.
Editorial summary
This study develops an SPME-GC/MS workflow for characterising volatile emissions from historic plastics and rubbers. FLEC-SPME appears through a cited earlier method rather than as an instrument used in the reported experiments.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher record and the UCL repository manuscript.
In: Building and Environment, vol. 99, pp. 239 - 251, 2016, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
The authors compare a rapid FLEC-PTR-MS sorption method with CLIMPAQ chamber measurements for BTEX on gypsum board. Both approaches produced comparable equilibrium partitioning, while the FLEC measurements allowed adsorption and desorption behaviour to be determined on a shorter timescale.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher abstract and article metadata.
In: International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, vol. 99, pp. 613 - 621, 2016, ISSN: 0017-9310.
Editorial summary
Computational fluid-dynamics simulations compare SVOC transport in two chamber geometries and assess how airflow and wall sorption affect equilibration. FLEC belongs to the cited methodological literature rather than to the chambers operated or simulated as FLEC systems in this study.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher abstract, article preview and cited-method context.
Wu, Yaoxing; Cox, Steven S; Xu, Ying; Liang, Yirui; Won, Doyun; Liu, Xiaoyu; Clausen, Per A; Rosell, Lars; Benning, Jennifer L; Zhang, Yinping; Little, John C
Building and Environment
In: Building and Environment, vol. 95, pp. 126 - 132, 2016, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
A purpose-built small chamber was evaluated as a reference system for measuring DEHP emissions, including a pilot comparison across six laboratories. The study reports interlaboratory variation and tests a mechanistic model, while FLEC appears only in references to earlier methods.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher abstract and article preview.
Harb, P; Sivachandiran, L; Gaudion, V; Thevenet, F; Locoge, N
Chemical Engineering Journal
In: Chemical Engineering Journal, vol. 306, pp. 568 - 578, 2016, ISSN: 1385-8947.
Editorial summary
The IRINA study develops and validates a controlled 40 m3 experimental room for indoor-air research. FLEC measurements were used to assess VOC emissions from the room's wall surfaces before and after aluminium foil was installed, making the cell part of the reported validation work.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher record and accessible full-text excerpts.
Lyng, Nadja Lynge; Gunnarsen, Lars; Andersen, Helle Vibeke; Kofoed-Sørensen, Vivi; Clausen, Per Axel
Building and Environment
In: Building and Environment, vol. 101, pp. 77 - 84, 2016, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
The authors designed a portable, low-cost cell for laboratory and field measurements of PCB emissions from building surfaces. The paper treats FLEC as a substantive comparator for emission-cell design and airflow, but measurements were made with the newly developed cell rather than a FLEC.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher record and accessible report/full-text excerpts.
Rizk, M; Verriele, M; Dusanter, S; Schoemaecker, C; calve, Le S; Locoge, N
Building and Environment
In: Building and Environment, vol. 99, pp. 200 - 209, 2016, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
A rapid field method couples FLEC with PTR-MS to derive VOC adsorption and desorption parameters on gypsum board and vinyl flooring. Tests at low concentrations assess robustness, time resolution and the range over which the parameters can be recovered.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher abstract and article metadata.
In: Science of The Total Environment, vol. 547, pp. 441 - 446, 2016, ISSN: 0048-9697.
Editorial summary
This study measured transfer of DEHP and DINP from several PVC floorings into dust under room-temperature and heated conditions. A FLEC was used directly alongside a custom chamber; heating increased DEHP migration, while surface coatings strongly affected transfer.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher abstract and article metadata.
In: Building and Environment, vol. 95, pp. 314 - 321, 2016, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
The paper introduces an early-stage concentration-history method for estimating key SVOC emission or sorption parameters within days rather than months. Its validation and discussion draw substantively on previously published FLEC-derived DEHP data, although no new FLEC experiment was performed.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher record and accessible article-reference context.
In: Building and Environment, vol. 100, pp. 197 - 202, 2016, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
A glass passive flux sampler was developed to estimate DEHP surface concentrations from PVC sheets within a short sampling period. The study substantively contrasts this approach with ventilated chambers such as FLEC and discusses how FLEC geometry can affect emissions controlled by external mass transfer.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher abstract and accessible article excerpts.
In: Building and Environment, vol. 95, pp. 283 - 290, 2016, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
The authors develop a closed-vial SPME method for assessing the equilibrium relationship between DEHP in PVC and adjacent air. They reanalyse earlier FLEC results, including mass-transfer corrections and FLEC operating parameters, but do not run a FLEC experiment themselves.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher record and an accessible manuscript copy.
Indoor pollutants, ventilation and material emissions were measured in Greek primary schools during heating and non-heating seasons. Building-product VOC emissions were tested directly with FLEC, and the results indicated that materials and low ventilation both affected classroom air quality.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher abstract and article metadata.
Two FLECs were placed on the same insulation board to compare TCIPP emissions under clean air and particle-laden air. Laboratory soot and particles from a working kitchen both increased the measured area-specific emission rate, demonstrating direct FLEC use.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher abstract and indexed full-text metadata.
This data article supplies equations, chamber profiles and supporting datasets for the companion comparison of FLEC and CLIMPAQ sorption methods. It documents the experimental data and calculations generated for that head-to-head methodological study.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the open full text and linked companion study.
An improved dual-chamber method was used to quantify sorption of three organophosphate flame retardants on building materials, foams and textiles. The paper substantively compares its method and resulting parameters with FLEC and other SVOC chambers, but does not report operating a FLEC.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher abstract and accessible article excerpts.
A 30 m3 chamber study tracked PCB transfer from coated source panels to settled dust by air and direct contact. FLEC appears only in the background discussion of earlier PCB and phthalate chamber work and was not used in these experiments.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher abstract and accessible article excerpts.
The article presents passive SPME sampling and modelling tools for identifying material sources and predicting their contribution to indoor air quality. It cites the earlier FLEC-SPME method in the methodological background, while the reported field work uses a home-made DOSEC cell.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher's openly accessible full text.
In: Proceedings of SPIE, vol. 9634, article 96344K, 2015.
Editorial summary
This conference paper evaluates a coated optical-fibre grating as a sensor for VOCs released from paint. The experimental setup directly placed a Chematec FLEC over the test surface to convey emissions to the sensor.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the SPIE publisher record and indexed proceedings text.
The study evaluates a surface-emissions trap intended to reduce pollutants released from flooring. FLEC measurements were made on the test floor before and during the intervention, directly documenting changes in compounds including 2-ethyl-1-hexanol.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher record and an accessible article copy.
In: International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, vol. 84, pp. 390 - 400, 2015, ISSN: 0017-9310.
Editorial summary
Numerical modelling is used to analyse coupled heat and moisture transfer in a cross-corrugated membrane heat exchanger. FLEC appears only through cited mass-transfer and membrane-characterisation literature, not as equipment used in the study.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher abstract and reference context.
In: Building and Environment, vol. 89, pp. 141 - 149, 2015, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
Phthalate emissions from vinyl flooring were measured in small and large chambers across changes in temperature and air mixing, then interpreted with a mechanistic model. FLEC is cited as earlier chamber work, while the experiments use other chamber systems.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher abstract and accessible methods context.
Experiments in purpose-built stainless-steel and wood chambers examine how wall sorption and airflow alter DEHP and DINP emissions from vinyl flooring. FLEC is part of the supporting literature on phthalate emission and mass transfer, but was not used in the reported tests.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher abstract and accessible methods excerpts.
In: Building and Environment, vol. 93, pp. 106 - 114, 2015, ISSN: 0360-1323, (Special Issue: Indoor pollutants, chemistry and health- Selected papers presented at Indoor Air 2014 conference in Hong Kong).
Editorial summary
This review assesses passive flux samplers as inexpensive tools for locating and ranking VOC-emitting indoor materials. FLEC is discussed as an established active emission-cell approach, so its role is contextual rather than experimental.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher abstract and review context.
In: Building and Environment, vol. 84, pp. 221 - 227, 2015, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
A fractal model is proposed for steady-state VOC diffusion through partially saturated building materials and is used to explore the effects of pore structure and moisture distribution. Model results are compared with published diffusion coefficients that include measurements obtained with a single FLEC, making FLEC-derived data part of the methodological assessment.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher abstract and accessible validation context.
Rizk, M.; Verriele, M.; Mendez, M.; Dusanter, S.; Schoemaecker, C.; Calvé, S. Le; Locoge, N.
WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment
In: WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, vol. 198, 2015, ISSN: 17433541.
Editorial summary
The authors couple FLEC with PTR-MS to measure sorption parameters for ethylbenzene on gypsum board and compare the results with CLIMPAQ. Direct FLEC experiments were faster and less affected by wall sinks than the larger chamber tests.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher's open conference-paper record.
Lim, Jungyun; Kim, Suejin; Kim, ARong; Lee, Wooseok; Han, Jinseok; Cha, Jun-Seok
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 4326–4339, 2014.
Editorial summary
This study measured VOC and carbonyl emissions from 332 Korean wallpaper products using a 20 L chamber. FLEC and FLEC-SPME appear only in the introduction as prior methods, not in the study's experiments.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher's openly accessible full text.
On-site formaldehyde surface measurements are combined with box and CFD modelling to predict classroom concentrations. The reported measurements use a home-made sampler coupled to SPME; FLEC-SPME is described only as an earlier field approach.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher record and HAL-hosted manuscript.
A mathematical model is developed for SVOC transport between air and suspended particles and is checked against published chamber data. FLEC and CLIMPAQ appear in the methodological background rather than as instruments used by the authors.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher abstract and accessible article-reference context.
Floor dust from homes and offices was exposed to ozone in a FLEC under several humidity and ozone conditions. The authors corrected measured reaction rates for FLEC wall losses and analysed chemical changes in the dust, constituting direct FLEC use.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher abstract and article metadata.
In: Science of The Total Environment, vol. 494-495, pp. 299 - 305, 2014, ISSN: 0048-9697.
Editorial summary
Latex paint containing two phthalates was tested in 0.25 m3 and 55 m3 chambers to relate boundary-layer transport to emission rates and near-surface concentrations. FLEC appears only in supporting literature; neither experimental chamber was a FLEC.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher abstract and accessible methods context.
In: Science of The Total Environment, vol. 481, pp. 35 - 46, 2014, ISSN: 0048-9697.
Editorial summary
The authors design a small passive chamber with a diffusive sampler for screening monoterpene emissions from laminated chipboard surfaces. FLEC is referenced in the broader emission-cell context, but the reported measurements use the newly constructed passive device.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher abstract and accessible article-reference context.
This review compares chamber configurations used to estimate flame-retardant emission rates and transfer to dust, with particular attention to sink effects and long equilibration times. FLEC is discussed as a polished-cell option for reducing surface losses, but no new FLEC experiment is reported.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher record and repository-hosted review manuscript.
In: Building and Environment, vol. 71, pp. 111 - 120, 2014, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
Passive flux samplers were used to map formaldehyde emissions from numerous surfaces in French classrooms and support a mass-balance assessment of mitigation options. FLEC is discussed as an established on-site method and contrasted with the sampler, but it was not used in the field campaign.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher abstract and accessible article excerpts.
Madsen, Anne Mette; Tendal, Kira; Frederiksen, Margit W
Science of The Total Environment
In: Science of The Total Environment, vol. 468-469, pp. 1112 - 1121, 2014, ISSN: 0048-9697.
Editorial summary
The study assesses tasks and work practices that influence greenhouse workers' exposure to fungi, bacteria, endotoxin and dust. A Chematec Particle-FLEC was used directly to release and measure particles from plant surfaces under controlled airflow.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher abstract and accessible methods excerpt.
Weigl, M.; Fürhapper, C.; Niedermayer, S.; Habla, E.; Nohava, M.; Nagl, S.; Polleres, S.
In: 2014, ISSN: 20426453.
Editorial summary
Small-scale FLEC tests were used to rank VOC emissions from individual timber-building products, while 30 m3 rooms assessed complete construction assemblies. Emissions generally declined over time, and covering surfaces with gypsum board had little long-term effect on total VOC levels.
Original editorial summary (non-verbatim), based on the publisher abstract and accessible article copy.
Chamber tests are usually used to determine the source characteristics of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) which are critical to quantify indoor exposure to SVOCs. In contrast to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the sorption effect of SVOCs to chamber surfaces usually needs to be considered due to the much higher surface/air partition coefficients, resulting in a long time to reach steady state, frequently on the order of months, and complicating the mathematical analysis of the resulting data.
A chamber test is also complicated if the material-phase concentration is not constant. This study shows how to design a chamber to overcome these limitations. A dimensionless mass transfer analysis is used to specify conditions for (1) neglecting the SVOC sorption effect to chamber surfaces, (2) neglecting the convective mass transfer resistance at sorption surfaces if the sorption effect cannot be neglected, and (3) regarding the material-phase concentration in the source as constant.
Several practical and quantifiable ways to improve chamber design are proposed. The approach is illustrated by analyzing available data from three different chambers in terms of the accuracy with which the model parameters can be determined and the time needed to conduct the chamber test. The results should greatly facilitate the design of chambers to characterize SVOC emissions and the resulting exposure.
Verbatim publisher abstract retained. The publisher states 'Creative Commons Attribution License'; no licence version is stated on the article page.
In: Building and Environment, vol. 64, pp. 7–25, 2013.
Editorial summary
This review synthesizes models used to predict VOC and SVOC emissions from indoor materials, focusing on their physical assumptions, mass-transfer mechanisms and required parameters. It also surveys experimental approaches for obtaining model inputs; FLEC is part of the reviewed literature rather than an apparatus used in a new study.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and article metadata; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
Vangronsveld, Erik; Berckmans, Steven; Spence, Mark
Annals of Occupational Hygiene
In: Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 2013.
Editorial summary
The study examines release of toluene diisocyanate to air and its migration from flexible polyurethane foam onto nearby surfaces. Three emission-cell configurations were tested, including a commercial FLEC, allowing the investigators to assess how the measurement setup influences observed transport.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and indexed record; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
In: Building and Environment, vol. 66, pp. 65 - 71, 2013, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
A mass-transfer procedure is proposed for estimating the initial VOC concentration, diffusion coefficient and material-air partition coefficient of solvent-based paint. Ventilated-chamber measurements for methylcyclohexane and toluene are used to test the model, but the accessible evidence does not identify the reported chamber as a FLEC.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and article record; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
In: Journal of Membrane Science, vol. 434, pp. 65 - 73, 2013, ISSN: 0376-7388.
Editorial summary
The paper derives and validates correlations for pressure loss and convective mass transfer in inline and staggered cross-flow hollow-fibre membrane bundles at low Reynolds numbers. A FLEC-related relation is cited as methodological background, while the experiments concern membrane-bundle humidification rather than material emissions in a FLEC.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and accessible article text snippets; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
In: Journal of Environmental Sciences, vol. 25, no. 5, pp. 908 - 915, 2013, ISSN: 1001-0742.
Editorial summary
Formaldehyde was surveyed in more than two thousand recently decorated rooms in Hangzhou, and statistical analysis related concentrations to temperature, humidity, closure time, time since decoration and source characteristics. A separate chamber experiment supported the combined temperature-humidity effect, but available descriptions do not identify that chamber as a FLEC.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and accessible article text; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
In: Building and Environment, vol. 69, pp. 114 - 120, 2013, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
The authors present a rapid approach for locating formaldehyde sources in occupied-scale rooms and estimating their combined emission rate. An apartment case study and window-opening tests illustrate source screening and the different time scales of concentration build-up and removal; FLEC is described as part of the underlying source-identification methodology.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and accessible full-text evidence; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
A coupled transport model is developed for gas- and particle-phase DEHP in a FLEC, accounting for adsorption to suspended particles and air-exchange conditions. The predictions are compared with measurements from earlier studies and indicate when particle size and recirculation can materially affect airborne SVOC concentrations.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
Clausen, Per Axel; Liu, Zhe; Kofoed-Sørensen, Vivi; Little, John C.; Wolkoff, Peder
Environmental Science & Technology
In: Environmental Science & Technology, 2012.
Editorial summary
This work measures how temperature changes the release of DEHP from PVC flooring under controlled emission-cell conditions. The authors used FLEC directly and interpreted the resulting concentration and emission-rate behaviour across temperatures.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the ACS publisher record and article metadata; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
Clandestine laboratories [e.g., drug, explosive, or chemical warfare (CW)] can be processed for chemical evidence that identifies the synthetic targets and reaction paths. Further, trace impurities contained in the product constitute a fingerprint that can correlate laboratories, associate distributed product (i.e., a terrorist CW attack) with the production laboratory, or relate various attacks. This phenomenological study evaluates the field and laboratory emission cell (FLEC) for its suitability for sampling volatile attribution signatures. Dissipation of a wide range of attribution signature representatives was studied from a variety of typical building materials using FLEC sampling. Results showed rapid and near complete analyte evaporation from metal, intermediate permanence on Teflon, and strong retention on vinyl tiles. FLEC also proved useful for sampling residues left after dissipation of a sulfur mustard stimulant. In summary, preliminary evaluation of FLEC for forensic attribution applications looks promising. Advantages, practical considerations, and disadvantages of FLEC sampling are discussed.
Verbatim article abstract retained. The publisher PDF states 'Creative Commons Attribution License'; no licence version is stated.
Kim, Jin-A.; Kim, Sumin; Kim, Hyun-Joong; Seo, Janghoo
Journal of Wuhan University of Technology-Materials Science Edition
In: Journal of Wuhan University of Technology-Materials Science Edition, vol. 27, pp. 120–125, 2012.
Editorial summary
The study measures formaldehyde and total VOC emissions from paints and coating materials intended for building composites. Results from a 20-litre chamber are evaluated alongside FLEC measurements to compare small-scale emission-testing approaches.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the Springer publisher record and accessible article descriptions; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
In: Journal of Chromatography A, vol. 1256, pp. 58 - 66, 2012, ISSN: 0021-9673.
Editorial summary
The paper extends FLEC dynamic-headspace sampling to low-volatility surface residues by derivatizing target compounds directly on the sampled material. Tests on glass, painted wallboard, concrete and carpet demonstrate recovery of chemical-warfare-related hydrolysis products and other residues that are difficult to collect with wipes.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and PubMed record; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
In: Pacheco-Torgal, F; Jalali, S; Fucic, A (Ed.): Toxicity of Building Materials, pp. 122 - 137, Woodhead Publishing, 2012, ISBN: 978-0-85709-122-2.
Editorial summary
This book chapter introduces indoor phthalates and flame retardants, reviews chamber evidence on their emission processes and presents a simplified model for steady-state gas-phase concentrations. It connects those concentrations to inhalation, dust ingestion and dermal exposure; FLEC is one of the experimental approaches covered in the review.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher chapter abstract and bibliographic record; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
Marć, Mariusz; Zabiegała, Bożena; Namieśnik, Jacek
TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry
In: TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, vol. 32, pp. 76 - 86, 2012, ISSN: 0165-9936.
Editorial summary
This review compares devices and analytical workflows used to quantify VOC and SVOC emissions from indoor materials under controlled conditions. It discusses how emission-test configurations, including FLEC, support optimisation of temperature, humidity, loading and ventilation parameters.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
Wood products, coated boards and exotic woods were exposed to two ozone levels in a one-cubic-metre chamber while VOC release, ozone uptake and ultrafine-particle formation were measured. The work shows strong variation among finishes and wood species, but its own tests used the large chamber rather than FLEC.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and article record; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
In: Pacheco-Torgal, F; Jalali, S; Fucic, A (Ed.): Toxicity of Building Materials, pp. 76 - 121, Woodhead Publishing, 2012, ISBN: 978-0-85709-122-2.
Editorial summary
Using formaldehyde as the principal example, this chapter reviews indoor VOC hazards, material-emission behaviour, measurement techniques, predictive models and environmental influences. FLEC belongs to the surveyed measurement literature and is not used for a new experimental data set in the chapter.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher chapter abstract and record; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
Salem, Mohamed Z M; Böhm, Martin; Srba, Jaromír; Beránková, Jitka
Building and Environment
In: Building and Environment, vol. 49, pp. 86 - 96, 2012, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
Formaldehyde emissions or content from wood-based panels and flooring products were compared using four standard procedures: EN 717-1, EN 717-2, ASTM D 6007-02 and EN 120. The study examines effects of product type, thickness, moisture and finishing, and reports strong agreement among several methods; FLEC is only part of the broader methodological context.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and accessible article text; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
Indoor and outdoor VOCs and formaldehyde were measured before occupancy in 107 newly built Korean apartments. A mass-balance model was used to estimate surface-specific emission rates and attribute major contributions to groups of interior materials; FLEC enters through cited prior source studies, not the authors' field protocol.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and accessible article text; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
In: Building and Environment, vol. 46, no. 6, pp. 1284–1291, 2011.
Editorial summary
The paper evaluates a passive flux sampler for locating indoor formaldehyde sources and estimating their surface emission rates. Laboratory validation and in-building measurements support the sampler's screening use, while FLEC is discussed as an established comparison approach rather than the instrument used by the authors.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and indexed record; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
A static solid-phase microextraction procedure is developed for collecting VOCs released by indoor building materials. The authors adapt a FLEC for static sampling and evaluate the configuration on representative material emissions before chromatographic analysis.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher record and repository full text; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
In: Journal of Membrane Science, vol. 367, no. 1, pp. 174 - 181, 2011, ISSN: 0376-7388.
Editorial summary
Experiments and simulations are combined to quantify water-vapour transport through PVDF and PES membranes, separating membrane resistance from boundary-layer effects. The reported apparatus studies humid-air transfer across membranes; FLEC appears only in prior work cited for related transport measurements.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and accessible article text snippets; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
In: Science of The Total Environment, vol. 409, no. 19, pp. 4031 - 4038, 2011, ISSN: 0048-9697.
Editorial summary
Gas-phase concentrations of several conventional and alternative plasticisers were measured in FLEC experiments, with long equilibration periods observed for some low-volatility compounds. The paper also compares predicted physicochemical properties and resulting gas-particle partition estimates, highlighting uncertainty when experimental vapour-pressure data are scarce.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and PubMed record; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
In: Nriagu, J O (Ed.): Encyclopedia of Environmental Health, pp. 722 - 730, Elsevier, Burlington, 2011, ISBN: 978-0-444-52272-6.
Editorial summary
This chapter reviews how viruses, bacteria, fungi, pollen, fragments and allergens can be sampled and analysed for exposure assessment. It compares culture and microscopy with newer chemical, biological and immunochemical approaches and stresses that results are comparable only when methodologies are aligned.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher chapter abstract; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
In: Journal of Hazardous Materials, vol. 192, no. 3, pp. 1026 - 1032, 2011, ISSN: 0304-3894.
Editorial summary
A screening procedure estimates emissions from wet products by tracking mass loss and residual target chemicals during controlled fume-hood evaporation. Tests with a liquid and a paste-like product are compared with chamber results, including FLEC data, to evaluate the method for low-volatility substances affected by chamber sinks.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and accessible article text; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
In: Journal of Hazardous Materials, vol. 187, no. 1, pp. 44 - 51, 2011, ISSN: 0304-3894.
Editorial summary
Formaldehyde and VOC releases from laminate flooring were measured with a desiccator, a 20-litre chamber and FLEC under different temperatures and flooring configurations. FLEC and the chamber produced similar time trends, although FLEC generally yielded higher emission rates, and joint geometry and heating mode affected results.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
Kim, Ki-Wook; Lee, Byoung-Ho; Kim, Sumin; Kim, Hyun-Joong; Yun, Ju-Ho; Yoo, Seung-Eul; Sohn, Jong Ryeul
Journal of Hazardous Materials
In: Journal of Hazardous Materials, vol. 187, no. 1, pp. 37 - 43, 2011, ISSN: 0304-3894.
Editorial summary
VOC emissions from biodegradable polymer composites containing natural flours were compared using thermal extraction, FLEC and a 20-litre chamber across temperature and ageing conditions. The experiments also evaluate a heat-treatment strategy for reducing emissions from PLA- and PBS-based materials.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and PubMed record; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
Ozone reactions with a pine-oil cleaner and related terpene mixtures were studied on urethane-coated vinyl flooring at two humidity levels. Surface-emission experiments used a controlled FLEC-based system and showed that alpha-terpineol chemistry dominated the oxygenated products observed from the cleaner mixture.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and public methodological records; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
In: International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, vol. 53, no. 23, pp. 5478 - 5486, 2010, ISSN: 0017-9310.
Editorial summary
A quasi-counter-flow membrane energy exchanger is modelled and experimentally evaluated for coupled heat and moisture transfer. The paper resolves local flow and transfer fields and finds performance between conventional cross-flow and counter-flow designs; FLEC enters only through an externally measured vapour-transport parameter cited from earlier work.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and accessible article text snippets; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
Kim, Ki-Wook; Kim, Sumin; Kim, Hyun-Joong; Park, Jin Chul
Journal of Hazardous Materials
In: Journal of Hazardous Materials, vol. 177, no. 1, pp. 90 - 94, 2010, ISSN: 0304-3894.
Editorial summary
Formaldehyde and TVOC emissions from medium-density fibreboard with several coated and uncoated surface finishes were compared in a 20-litre chamber and in FLEC. The results show how surface treatment changes emissions and that reductions can differ by pollutant and test configuration.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
A multi-city European field campaign measured indoor and outdoor VOCs and carbonyls in public buildings and homes during winter and summer. Selected building materials were also tested directly with FLEC, helping estimate the contribution of material emissions to observed indoor concentrations.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
In: Journal of Hazardous Materials, vol. 176, no. 1, pp. 14 - 19, 2010, ISSN: 0304-3894.
Editorial summary
Formaldehyde and TVOC emissions were followed across manufacturing stages for laminate and engineered wood flooring, including application of decorative layers and final surface finishes. FLEC measurements show that finishing can substantially reduce emissions, although intermediate bonding steps may temporarily increase them.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and indexed article record; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
Long-term DEHP release from vinyl flooring was measured in five FLECs operated initially at the same flow and later at different flow rates, with a sixth cell serving as a blank. The measurements and CFD analysis indicate that emission rate rises with air exchange even as gas-phase concentration falls slightly, and they also assess sorption on internal cell surfaces.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
An, Jae-Yoon; Kim, Sumin; Kim, Hyun-Joong; Seo, Janghoo
Building and Environment
In: Building and Environment, vol. 45, no. 8, pp. 1826 - 1833, 2010, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
Emissions from engineered flooring, adhesive and their installed combination were measured by desiccator, 20-litre chamber and FLEC under floor-heating and air-circulation conditions. Temperature and ventilation mode altered formaldehyde and TVOC release, while the two chamber approaches showed similar trends but different emission-rate levels.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
This review compares methods for measuring formaldehyde and VOC emissions from wood-based construction and furniture materials and surveys strategies for lowering those emissions. FLEC is discussed among Korean and international chamber-based test approaches, alongside pre-screening and bake-out options.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and PubMed record; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
In: Polymer Degradation and Stability, vol. 95, no. 9, pp. 1789 - 1793, 2010, ISSN: 0141-3910.
Editorial summary
The evaporation-controlled loss of DEHP from pure plasticiser and plasticised PVC was studied below 120 degrees Celsius while varying nitrogen flow and humidity. The authors used a dedicated flow-through evaporation setup and chemical analysis to assess surface enrichment and degradation; FLEC appears only in comparison with earlier DEHP studies.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and accessible full-text evidence; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
In: Journal of Hazardous Materials, vol. 178, no. 1, pp. 370 - 376, 2010, ISSN: 0304-3894.
Editorial summary
The authors develop a passive emission cell for simultaneous multi-sampling to screen indoor sources of formaldehyde and other carbonyl compounds. Tests on wood composites and a bookshelf show that source-based emission estimates can reproduce concentrations measured in a larger chamber; FLEC is discussed only as a pre-existing method.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and public technical documentation; no commercially reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
In: Journal of Membrane Science, vol. 357, no. 1, pp. 185 - 191, 2010, ISSN: 0376-7388.
Editorial summary
This study evaluates moisture diffusivity in PVDF, PES and cellulose membranes using a purpose-built airflow-channel and water-tank setup. FLEC appears only through a cited earlier membrane-permeation study, not as the apparatus used in the reported experiments.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher abstract and reference list; no reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
In: e-Preservation Science, vol. 6, pp. 53–59, 2009.
Editorial summary
Two model papers were artificially aged in closed tubes, after which a FLEC was placed directly on each sheet to collect VOCs non-destructively on DNPH silica and Tenax TA. Numerous degradation products were identified, and emissions of abundant compounds such as acetaldehyde, acetic acid, vanillin and furfural generally rose with ageing time.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publicly available journal PDF; the PDF carries a publisher copyright notice and no commercially reusable licence was verified.
In: Building and Environment, vol. 44, no. 6, pp. 1199 - 1205, 2009, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
The study exposed two UV-coated wood flooring products to ozone and several light sources in double-cylinder laboratory chambers, with an additional room-scale field test. Heating, ultraviolet irradiation and ozone increased secondary emissions including formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, although the response depended on exposure type.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the Elsevier publisher abstract and accessible article sections; no commercially reusable licence was verified.
The surface-phase reaction products of dihydromyrcenol (2,6-dimethyl-7-octen-2-ol) with ozone (O3), air, or nitrogen (N2) on silanized glass, glass and vinyl flooring tile were investigated using the recently published FACS (FLEC (Field and Laboratory Emission Cell) Automation and Control System). The FACS was used to deliver ozone (100 ppb), air, or N2 to the surface at a specified flow rate (300 mL min−1) and relative humidity (50%) after application of a 2.0% dihydromyrcenol solution in methanol. Oxidation products were detected using the derivatization agents: O-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl)hydroxylamine hydrochloride (PFBHA) and N,O-bis(trimethysilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA). The positively identified reaction products were glycolaldehyde, 2,6-dimethyl-5-heptenal, and glyoxal. The proposed oxidation products based on previously published VOC/O3 reaction mechanisms were: 2,6-dimethyl-4-heptenal, 6-methyl-7-octen-2-one and the surface-specific reaction products: 6-methyl-6-hepten-2-one, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, and 6-hydroxy-6-methylheptan-2-one. Though similar products were observed in gas-phase dihydromyrcenol/O3 reactions, the ratio, based on peak area, of the reaction products was different suggesting stabilization of larger molecular weight species by the surface. Emission profiles of these oxidation products over 72 h are also reported.
Full author abstract retained from the authoritative CDC Stacks record, which explicitly marks the item as Public Domain.
In: Building and Environment, vol. 44, no. 5, pp. 859 - 863, 2009, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
The authors deployed passive flux samplers on numerous surfaces in a Tokyo concrete building to apportion indoor carbonyl and VOC emissions. Area-adjusted estimates identified the carpet, ceiling and walls as the main contributors, while the door, flooring and desk made much smaller contributions.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the Elsevier publisher abstract and indexed introduction; no commercially reusable licence was verified.
The study formulated natural wattle-tannin and PVAc hybrid adhesives for bonding decorative veneer to engineered flooring and assessed bonding performance and pollutant emissions. FLEC, a desiccator test and a VOC analyser showed acceptable formaldehyde grades with UV coating, while added PVAc slightly raised TVOC emissions.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the Elsevier abstract reproduced in PubMed; no commercially reusable licence was verified.
In: Journal of Cultural Heritage, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 206 - 213, 2009, ISSN: 1296-2074.
Editorial summary
The researchers treated wood with calcium or magnesium hydroxide nanoparticles to create an alkaline reserve without applying an appearance-changing coating, aiming to suppress acid vapours that corrode historic organ pipes. FLEC measurements found acetic-acid emissions below 70 µg m−2 h−1 from treated wood during the first thirteen months, compared with 200–400 µg m−2 h−1 from untreated wood.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the Elsevier publisher abstract and public repository records; no commercially reusable licence was verified.
The authors optimized passive FLEC-SPME sampling by establishing material-specific equilibrium times for pine, carpet and PVC and then testing additional materials over three days. Comparison with standard dynamic sampling found only minor qualitative differences in detecting regulated VOCs of interest, supporting the method's use for field source identification.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the Elsevier publisher abstract and indexed article conclusion; no commercially reusable licence was verified.
In: Polymer Degradation and Stability, vol. 94, no. 6, pp. 914 - 920, 2009, ISSN: 0141-3910.
Editorial summary
The authors refined a micro-scale headspace-vial method coupled with HS-SPME to study DOP and DINP degradation under humid alkaline conditions. A carbowax-divinylbenzene fibre gave the strongest alcohol extraction, and formation of the degradation products depended strongly on pH.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the Elsevier publisher abstract and KTH repository metadata; no commercially reusable licence was verified.
Lee, Byoung-Ho; Kim, Hee-Soo; Kim, Ki-Wook; Lee, Se-Na; Kim, Hyun-Joong
Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
In: Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology, vol. 36, pp. 46–55, 2008.
Editorial summary
The study compared formaldehyde and TVOC emissions from wood-flour and polypropylene biocomposites carrying decorative veneer attached by hot pressing or adhesive, using both FLEC and a 20-litre chamber. Hot-pressed veneer produced the lowest emissions, whereas adhesive-bonded veneer showed the highest TVOC, and the two test methods gave broadly similar results.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the linked Korean journal record and publicly available author-deposited text; no commercially reusable licence was verified.
Järnström, H; Saarela, K; Kalliokoski, P; Pasanen, A -L
Environment International
In: Environment International, vol. 34, no. 3, pp. 420 - 427, 2008, ISSN: 0160-4120, (Proceedings of the 1st Conference of the UK Network on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) 29th and 30th March 2006, University of Birmingham, UK).
Editorial summary
Laboratory FLEC measurements of six PVC floor coverings and four adhesives were compared with on-site measurements from completed floor structures. Complete structures generally emitted more VOCs, with permeability of the covering and emissions from both adhesive and PVC backing shaping the measured profiles.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the Elsevier publisher abstract and indexed article text; no commercially reusable licence was verified.
In: Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology, vol. 35, no. 5, pp. 24–37, 2007.
Editorial summary
This study evaluated the reproducibility and speed of FLEC measurements of formaldehyde and TVOCs from MDF, laminate flooring and engineered flooring against desiccator and perforator results. FLEC captured multiple aldehydes and VOCs within fifteen to thirty minutes and showed similar formaldehyde trends, but the authors said broader testing was needed for exact cross-method correlations.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the Korean Citation Index record and publicly available author-deposited full text; no commercially reusable licence was verified.
PVC- and linoleum-based floor assemblies were exposed to alkaline solutions while their secondary VOC emissions were measured with a Field and Laboratory Emission Cell. The findings attribute most degradation emissions to the adhesive and indicate that adhesive quantity and high alkalinity strongly affect the release rate.
Editorial summary written from the Lund University publication record; no explicit CC BY, CC0 or public-domain licence for reuse of the original abstract was found.
Kim, Shin Do; Lee, Hee Kwan; Kim, Chang Hwan; Lee, Seo Lim
Materials Science Forum
In: Materials Science Forum, vols. 544–545, pp. 905–908, 2007.
Editorial summary
The authors assess whether FLEC testing is suitable for indoor-air emission measurements of building materials under in-situ conditions. They compare FLEC and chamber results and aim to derive guidance for relating measurements from the two approaches.
Editorial summary written from the Scientific.Net publisher abstract; no explicit CC BY, CC0 or public-domain licence for reuse of the original abstract was found.
Kim, Sumin; Kim, Jin-A.; An, Jae-Yoon; Kim, Hyun-Joong; Kim, Shin Do; Park, Jin Chul
Indoor Air
In: Indoor Air, vol. 17, no. 5, pp. 404–415, 2007.
Editorial summary
Engineered flooring bonded with mixtures of melamine-formaldehyde resin and polyvinyl acetate was tested for formaldehyde and VOC emissions using several techniques, including FLEC and a 20-litre chamber. Increasing the polyvinyl acetate fraction reduced formaldehyde emissions, while the cross-method results supported the use of a VOC analyser as a preliminary screening tool.
Editorial summary written from the PubMed record and linked publisher metadata; no explicit CC BY, CC0 or public-domain licence for reuse of the original abstract was found.
In: Indoor Air, vol. 17, no. 3, pp. 178–188, 2007.
Editorial summary
Three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics was used to map airflow and VOC transport within the FLEC cavity for materials governed by internal, external or mixed diffusion. The analysis identifies airflow bias and conditions under which the cell can underestimate emissions from evaporation-controlled materials.
Editorial summary written from the PubMed abstract supplied by the publisher; no explicit CC BY, CC0 or public-domain licence for reuse of the original abstract was found.
Flemmer, Michael M.; Ham, Jason E.; Wells, John R.
Review of Scientific Instruments
In: Review of Scientific Instruments, vol. 78, no. 1, pp. 014101, 2007.
Editorial summary
A FLEC automation and control platform was developed to maintain ozone concentration, humidity and airflow during controlled surface-chemistry experiments. Tests involving ozone and alpha-terpineol on vinyl demonstrated stable operating conditions and sustained release of reaction products.
Editorial summary written from the PubMed abstract supplied by the publisher; no explicit CC BY, CC0 or public-domain licence for reuse of the original abstract was found.
Clausen, Per Axel; Xu, Ying; Kofoed-Sørensen, Vivi; Little, John C; Wolkoff, Peder
Atmospheric Environment
In: Atmospheric Environment, vol. 41, no. 15, pp. 3217 - 3224, 2007, ISSN: 1352-2310, (Indoor Air 2005 - 10th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate (Part I)).
Editorial summary
Vinyl flooring containing DEHP was monitored in multiple FLEC cells for one year under different relative-humidity conditions. The measured emission rates and a physically based model both indicated that DEHP release from this flooring was effectively independent of relative humidity over the tested range.
Editorial summary written from the Elsevier publisher abstract; no explicit CC BY, CC0 or public-domain licence for reuse of the original abstract was found.
The paper derives dimensionless correlations for estimating VOC emission rates and cumulative release from dry building materials without repeatedly solving the underlying mass-transfer equations. It validates the correlations against model predictions and literature data, while FLEC/CFD work appears only as supporting prior research rather than as the study's own apparatus.
Editorial summary written from the Elsevier and Duke institutional publication records; no explicit CC BY, CC0 or public-domain licence for reuse of the original abstract was found.
Plywood treated with urea, catechin or vanillin was tested to determine whether these compounds suppress formaldehyde emissions. A commercial FLEC served as the micro-emission cell, and the treatments substantially reduced measured release rates, with urea also lowering concentrations in a full kitchen-cabinet trial.
Editorial summary written from the Elsevier publisher record and publicly accessible author manuscript; the displayed article states Elsevier copyright rather than a commercially reusable open licence.
Seven newly constructed Finnish residential buildings were followed from construction through their first year, with VOC, formaldehyde and ammonia emissions measured directly from finished surfaces using FLEC. The study reports time-dependent reference values and shows that most surface emissions declined to Finnish M1 levels within six to twelve months, although some ceiling emissions remained elevated.
Editorial summary written from the Elsevier publisher abstract and the U.S. EPA HERO record; no explicit CC BY, CC0 or public-domain licence for reuse of the original abstract was found.
A passive flux sampler using a DNPH-treated sheet in a glass dish was developed to quantify formaldehyde emissions directly from indoor surfaces. Laboratory comparisons with a chamber method and a model-house trial indicate that the sampler can rank sources and help distinguish controlling transport processes.
Editorial summary written from the Elsevier publisher abstract; no explicit CC BY, CC0 or public-domain licence for reuse of the original abstract was found.
In: Indoor Environment and Technology, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 79–96, 2006. KCI ID ART001267204; UCI G704-002156.2006.3.2.003.
Editorial summary
This Korean-language article introduces the Field and Laboratory Emission Cell method and surveys its practical application to material-emission testing. FLEC is the central subject of both the Korean and English titles rather than merely an apparatus used for a separate material study.
Editorial summary written from the Korea Citation Index bibliographic record; that record supplies no author abstract and no explicit CC BY, CC0 or public-domain licence.
In: Indoor and Built Environment, vol. 15, no. 6, pp. 511–523, 2006.
Editorial summary
The authors evaluate VOC and formaldehyde emissions from several wood-based finishing materials with a purpose-built 20-litre chamber, a portable VOC analyser and a desiccator method. FLEC was not used in the reported experiments and appears only in the publisher's reference list through an earlier correlation study.
Editorial summary written from the SAGE publisher abstract and reference list; no explicit CC BY, CC0 or public-domain licence for reuse of the original abstract was found.
In: International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, vol. 49, no. 5, pp. 1176 - 1184, 2006, ISSN: 0017-9310.
Editorial summary
A standard FLEC was used with experiments and mathematical modelling to examine water-vapour permeation through a hydrophilic polymer membrane. The work relates moisture-transfer effectiveness to transfer units and uses the resulting correlation to infer membrane diffusivity.
Editorial summary written from the Elsevier publisher abstract; no explicit CC BY, CC0 or public-domain licence for reuse of the original abstract was found.
In: Building and Environment, vol. 41, no. 9, pp. 1148 - 1160, 2006, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
The study develops a one-FLEC inverse-analysis procedure for estimating diffusion and partition coefficients of eight VOCs in cement slabs. Outlet concentrations measured by sorbent-tube thermal desorption and GC-MS were fitted to transient mass-diffusion equations, with a second mass-balance estimate used to check the partition coefficient.
Editorial summary written from the Elsevier publisher abstract; no explicit CC BY, CC0 or public-domain licence for reuse of the original abstract was found.
In: Journal of Membrane Science, vol. 269, no. 1, pp. 75 - 83, 2006, ISSN: 0376-7388.
Editorial summary
A two-stage FLEC-based technique is proposed to estimate moisture diffusivity in hydrophilic polymer membranes while accounting for convective boundary-layer resistance and non-uniform surface transport. The procedure first determines the cell's convective mass-transfer coefficient and then combines membrane measurements with two-dimensional transport modelling.
Editorial summary written from the Elsevier publisher abstract; no explicit CC BY, CC0 or public-domain licence for reuse of the original abstract was found.
In: Separation and Purification Technology, vol. 48, no. 2, pp. 121 - 132, 2006, ISSN: 1383-5866, (Separation and Purification in the Food Industry).
Editorial summary
The article re-examines how Lewis numbers should be formulated for drying hygroscopic materials and illustrates two revised approaches with milk-particle calculations. FLEC appears only as an example of an advanced moisture-measurement technique rather than as apparatus used in the study.
Editorial summary written from the Elsevier publisher record; no explicit CC BY, CC0 or public-domain licence for reuse of the original abstract was found.
In: Building and Environment, vol. 41, no. 10, pp. 1317 - 1325, 2006, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
A physically based model for VOC release from paint was calibrated and tested using FLEC measurements of a commercial water-based coating applied to aluminium and particleboard. The experiments identified 23 compounds, and the model showed how an absorptive substrate can lower the initial peak while prolonging emissions.
Editorial summary written from the Elsevier publisher abstract; no explicit CC BY, CC0 or public-domain licence for reuse of the original abstract was found.
Meyer, H. W.; Würtz, H.; Suadicani, P.; Valbjørn, O.; Sigsgaard, T.; Gyntelberg, F.
Indoor Air
In: Indoor Air, 2005.
Editorial summary
A controlled human-exposure system derived from the Particle-FLEC delivered aerosolized spores from mould-growing building materials to eight sensitive participants in a blinded placebo comparison. The exposure system achieved realistic, tightly controlled doses, while the small clinical experiment found no clear increase in responses beyond placebo.
Editorial summary written from the PubMed abstract supplied by the publisher; no explicit CC BY, CC0 or public-domain licence for reuse of the original abstract was found.
Formaldehyde emissions from medium-density fibreboard were measured in a full-scale chamber, a boundary-layer chamber and a FLEC and interpreted with computational fluid dynamics. The study evaluates how chamber-specific mass-transfer coefficients affect measured emission rates and the comparability of results across test geometries.
Editorial summary written from the publicly accessible AIVC Airbase abstract; the record states no explicit CC BY, CC0 or public-domain licence for abstract reuse.
Long-term experiments in duplicate FLECs and a CLIMPAQ chamber quantified DEHP release from PVC flooring and its subsequent accumulation in settled dust. The data support a persistent, transfer-limited emission process and show that dust on the flooring can act as an additional sink for the plasticizer.
Editorial summary written from the ACS publisher record and public research metadata; no explicit CC BY, CC0 or public-domain licence for reuse of the original abstract was found.
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
In: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2004.
Editorial summary
An office investigation combined employee health records and symptom surveys with indoor-air testing and in-situ FLEC measurements from concrete beneath degraded PVC floor coverings. Removal of the floor system and accelerated ventilation reduced marker VOCs and coincided with fewer symptoms and lower medication needs among several affected workers.
Editorial summary written from the PubMed abstract supplied by the publisher; no explicit CC BY, CC0 or public-domain licence for reuse of the original abstract was found.
In: International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, vol. 47, no. 10, pp. 2061 - 2072, 2004, ISSN: 0017-9310.
Editorial summary
A one-FLEC inverse-analysis method was developed to determine water-vapour diffusion and partition coefficients in cement slabs from transient outlet-concentration measurements. Agreement between measurements and model predictions was used to assess the method and to examine errors caused by non-uniform initial moisture distributions.
Editorial summary written from the Elsevier publisher abstract; no explicit CC BY, CC0 or public-domain licence for reuse of the original abstract was found.
In: Building and Environment, vol. 39, no. 5, pp. 523 - 531, 2004, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
A single-zone, multi-component and multi-layer model is used to predict VOC behaviour in rooms whose walls, floor and ceiling have different diffusion and sorption properties. The accessible publisher record does not describe FLEC measurements, while its indexed references connect the model to earlier FLEC mass-transfer research.
Editorial summary written from the Elsevier publisher abstract and indexed reference listing; no explicit CC BY, CC0 or public-domain licence for reuse of the original abstract was found.
Afshari, Alireza; Lundgren, Björn; Ekberg, Lars E.
Indoor Air
In: Indoor Air, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 156–165, 2003.
Editorial summary
This study compares VOC emission rates from aged alkyd paint measured in a 1 m³ chamber, FLEC and CLIMPAQ under matched climatic and area-specific ventilation conditions. The three systems differed in stabilization time but produced emission rates that agreed within the study's stated overall uncertainty.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on the publisher record and indexed abstract; no reusable license for the source abstract was established.
In: International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, vol. 46, no. 13, pp. 2415 - 2423, 2003, ISSN: 0017-9310.
Editorial summary
The authors combine FLEC experiments on water-based paint with a three-dimensional model of convection and diffusion through the coating and substrate. Because the primary contribution is a FLEC-specific mass-transfer model and its validation, the record is treated as method work.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on the publisher abstract and article metadata; no reusable license for the source abstract was established.
In: Building and Environment, vol. 38, no. 7, pp. 939 - 946, 2003, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
A detailed mass-transfer model is used to examine how substrate diffusion and sorption alter VOC emissions from a wet water-based coating. Emission profiles measured in a standard FLEC validate the model and support the conclusion that the substrate can act as a secondary source.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on the publisher abstract; no reusable license for the source abstract was established.
In: International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, vol. 46, no. 1, pp. 91 - 100, 2003, ISSN: 0017-9310.
Editorial summary
This paper characterises airflow, moisture transport and convective mass transfer inside a standard FLEC using numerical flow calculations and water-evaporation experiments. It maps velocity and humidity fields and compares predicted mean transfer coefficients with measurements.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on the publisher abstract; no reusable license for the source abstract was established.
In: Fungal Genetics and Biology, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 103 - 117, 2003, ISSN: 1087-1845.
Editorial summary
This review examines when indoor moulds produce mycotoxins, how metabolites are identified and how contaminated material may contribute to exposure. It mentions Particle-FLEC as a possible way to quantify particle release from surfaces, but reports no FLEC experiment of its own.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on the publisher record and accessible review text; no reusable license for the source abstract was established.
Two experimental configurations incorporating FLEC are used to study transport of mixed VOCs through gypsum board. The results describe compound-dependent diffusion and relate coefficients for chlorinated compounds to molecular properties.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on the institutional repository record and indexed abstract; no reusable license for the source abstract was established.
Salthammer, T; Bednarek, M; Fuhrmann, F; Funaki, R; Tanabe, S -I
Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry
In: Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, vol. 152, no. 1, pp. 1 - 9, 2002, ISSN: 1010-6030.
Editorial summary
VOC emissions from UV-cured furniture and parquet coatings were measured under realistic conditions in both 1 m³ chambers and FLEC. The work identifies photoinitiators, fragmentation products and monomers and shows that climatic conditions strongly affect emission rates.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on the publisher abstract; no reusable license for the source abstract was established.
In: Anson, M; Ko, J M; Lam, E S S (Ed.): Advances in Building Technology, pp. 1351 - 1357, Elsevier, Oxford, 2002, ISBN: 978-0-08-044100-9.
Editorial summary
The chapter measures mean and local convective mass-transfer coefficients in a standard FLEC by varying the effective wet surface radius and airflow. Its primary contribution is experimental characterisation of FLEC transport behaviour, including dimensionless transfer correlations.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on the publisher and institutional records; no reusable license for the source abstract was established.
In: Journal of Architecture and Planning, vol. 66, 2001.
Editorial summary
Two-dimensional CFD is used to analyse airflow and VOC diffusion within the FLEC cavity for internally controlled, externally controlled and mixed emission regimes. The simulations identify conditions in which FLEC performs well and conditions in which surface mass transfer can distort emission testing.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on the journal record and abstract; no reusable license for the source abstract was established.
Buchtova, A.; Ventura, G.; Martins, A.; Čurina, I.; Katuščák, S.
Pulp and Paper—Technology, Properties, Environment
In: Pulp and Paper—Technology, Properties, Environment, 2001.
Editorial summary
This conference contribution presents determination of VOC emissions with FLEC as an alternative to conventional chamber testing. Accessible bibliographic sources establish the method-comparison scope, although detailed experimental results could not be checked.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on public conference and author-bibliography records; no reusable licensed source abstract was located.
The authors used FLEC to measure ozone removal by 16 aged but unused building products. Replicate profiles and derived deposition velocities show how rapidly and persistently different surfaces remove ozone.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on the publisher record and indexed abstract; no reusable license for the source abstract was established.
Headspace screening identified 2-butoxyethanol in several consumer products, after which FLEC measurements quantified emissions from five cleaning-related products. The emission data were then used with product-use scenarios to estimate inhalation exposure during cleaning tasks.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on the publisher abstract and public review record; no reusable license for the source abstract was established.
The study analyses BTEX concentrations in hundreds of rooms across 115 non-smoking homes and examines the influence of traffic, season, ventilation, room type, garages and household activities. The accessible article metadata does not establish any occurrence or role of FLEC.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on the publisher abstract; no reusable license for the source abstract was established.
In: Journal of Aerosol Science, vol. 31, pp. 486 - 487, 2000, ISSN: 0021-8502, (European Aerosol Conference 2000).
Editorial summary
This short conference paper describes experimental characterisation of particle release from indoor surfaces. Later method papers identify its setup as the design basis for the portable Particle-FLEC, but the original two-page text was not accessible for detailed checking.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on the DTU bibliographic record and later method literature; no reusable licensed source abstract was located.
In: Organic Indoor Air Pollutants, pp. 143–152, 1999.
Editorial summary
This book chapter is devoted to the design and use of the Field and Laboratory Emission Cell for measuring emissions from material surfaces. FLEC is the chapter's central method rather than a peripheral example.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on the publisher's book and chapter metadata; no reusable licensed source abstract was located.
The study describes a FLEC procedure for formaldehyde sampling with DNPH cartridges and HPLC and compares it with the traditional chamber method for wood-based products. Recovery tests and cross-method results form a validation of FLEC for formaldehyde emissions.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on the official PubMed abstract; no reusable license for the source abstract was established.
A rapid screening setup places an indoor material between two FLECs and follows transport of a 20-compound VOC mixture across it. Tests on ten materials demonstrate the method's use for comparing sorption capacity and permeability.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on the institutional repository abstract and publisher metadata; no reusable license for the source abstract was established.
Risholm-Sundman, M.; Lundgren, M.; Vestin, E.; Herder, P.
Holz als Roh- und Werkstoff
In: Holz als Roh- und Werkstoff, vol. 56, pp. 125–129, 1998.
Editorial summary
Emissions of acetic acid and other VOCs were compared across nine solid-wood species using FLEC and headspace analysis. The measurements show pronounced differences among species, particularly for acetic-acid release.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on the publisher record and indexed abstract; no reusable license for the source abstract was established.
In: Building and Environment, vol. 33, no. 5, pp. 261 - 277, 1998, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
This paper reviews how temperature, relative humidity and surface air velocity affect material-emission rates, and it reports additional experiments on paint and varnish. Its literature-review section describes the Field and Laboratory Emission Cell among material-emission test approaches; the paper does not establish FLEC as the apparatus for its own additional experiments.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher record and accessible article text; no reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
In: Science of The Total Environment, vol. 215, no. 1, pp. 135 - 156, 1998, ISSN: 0048-9697.
Editorial summary
This review examines chemical and particle exposures associated with cleaning agents and cleaning work. As part of the underlying exposure assessment, emissions from five cleaning-related products were measured with FLEC and its sub-unit.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the DOI record and accessible publication text; no reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
In: Building and Environment, vol. 33, no. 6, pp. 357 - 374, 1998, ISSN: 0360-1323.
Editorial summary
This review summarises VOC emissions from polymeric materials used in buildings, their possible indoor-air effects and requirements for product testing and control. FLEC occurs in the publication's discussion and references as one of the material-emission approaches; no new FLEC experiment is reported.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher record; no reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
Long-term FLEC measurements followed selected VOC emissions from five building products for up to 250 days under changes in air velocity, temperature, humidity and carrier gas. The results show that temperature and humidity effects depend strongly on the material and compound, while long-term primary emissions were comparatively insensitive to air velocity.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on the publisher abstract; no reusable license for the source abstract was established.
The authors characterise the FLEC airflow field with simple flow theory and hot-wire measurements and assess how source position affects measured emission rates. They identify uneven surface velocities and a low-velocity region near the cell centre.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on the publisher abstract; no reusable license for the source abstract was established.
This study examines artifacts produced when Tenax TA samples indoor air or laboratory mixtures containing ozone, nitrogen dioxide and limonene. Its reference list cites the FLEC performance and application study, but FLEC is not the reported apparatus in this Tenax investigation.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher record and its reference list; no reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
This review identifies gas-phase and heterogeneous reactions among indoor pollutants that can proceed on indoor-air residence-time scales. Its reference list includes a linoleum-emission study performed with FLEC; the review itself does not report a new FLEC experiment.
Editorial, non-verbatim summary based on the publisher record and its reference list; no reusable licence for the original abstract was verified.
In: Gefahrstoffe - Reinhaltung der Luft, vol. 56, pp. 151–157, 1996.
Editorial summary
This foundational article presents FLEC as a portable cell for measuring VOC emissions from building materials in the laboratory or directly on installed surfaces. The publication's primary subject is the cell's design and measurement application.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on the institutional publication record; no reusable licensed source abstract was located.
In: Proceedings of Indoor Air '96, vol. 2, pp. 657–662, 1996. EPA report EPA/600/A-97/006.
Editorial summary
The EPA study evaluates how relative humidity and other operating conditions affect FLEC measurements of VOC emissions from latex paint and compares results with small chambers. It concludes that humidified supply air is needed for reliable field use and that some compounds require further evaluation.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on the official EPA full-text report; no reusable license for a source abstract was established.
Roache, N. F.; Guo, Z.; Fortmann, R.; Tichenor, B. A.
Characterizing Sources of Indoor Air Pollution and Related Sink Effects
In: Tichenor, B. A. (ed.), Characterizing Sources of Indoor Air Pollution and Related Sink Effects, ASTM STP 1287, pp. 98–111, 1996.
Editorial summary
This ASTM study evaluates FLEC repeatability, air-velocity effects and agreement with traditional chambers using floor wax and latex paint. Its primary contribution is validation and comparison of the FLEC testing method.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on the official ASTM record; no reusable license for the source abstract was established.
The paper presents a Danish labelling framework that combines material-emission testing, standard-room modelling and comfort or health evaluation. FLEC measurements of two sealants are used as the empirical example for the broader labelling approach.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on the publisher abstract; no reusable license for the source abstract was established.
Jensen, B.; Wolkoff, P.; Wilkins, C. K.; Clausen, P. A.
Indoor Air
In: Indoor Air, vol. 5, pp. 38–43, 1995.
Editorial summary
FLEC measurements followed VOC emissions from 12 linoleum samples after initial testing and again after ventilated storage. The study identifies major aldehydes and fatty acids and models selected emission profiles.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on the publisher abstract; no reusable license for the source abstract was established.
The authors evaluate FLEC performance through airflow control, recovery tests, comparison with a small climate chamber and a damaged-linoleum field case. Because validation and intercomparison are central, the study is classified as method work.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on the publisher abstract; no reusable license for the source abstract was established.
Engineering Solutions to Indoor Air Quality Problems
In: Engineering Solutions to Indoor Air Quality Problems, Air & Waste Management Association, VIP 51, pp. 51–60, 1995.
Editorial summary
This conference paper evaluates whether FLEC is suitable for characterising emissions from engineered wood products. The accessible official citation confirms the evaluation scope, but detailed methods and results were not available.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on an official EPA bibliography and citation context; no reusable licensed source abstract was located.
Wolkoff, Peder; Clausen, Per Axel; Nielsen, Peter Axel; Gunnarsen, Lars
Indoor Air
In: Indoor Air, 1993.
Editorial summary
FLEC measurements at three air-exchange rates are combined with decay and diffusion models to interpret VOC emissions from carpet, linoleum, paint and sealant. The paper's primary contribution is documentation and modelling of the FLEC method.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on the university repository record and accessible article text; no reusable license for the source abstract was established.
Wolkoff, Peder; Clausen, Per Axel; Nielsen, P. A.; Gustafsson, H.; Jonsson, B.; Rasmusen, E.
Indoor Air Quality '91: Healthy Buildings
In: Indoor Air Quality '91: Healthy Buildings, ASHRAE, pp. 160–165, 1991.
Editorial summary
This Healthy Buildings contribution introduced the Field and Laboratory Emission Cell as a portable approach for characterising emissions from indoor materials. Contemporary technical reports identify it as the original presentation of the FLEC design.
Original non-verbatim editorial summary based on contemporary public technical reports and bibliographic citations; no reusable licensed source abstract was located.
