Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from Wood and Wood-Based Panels: Methods for Evaluation, Potential Health Risks, and Mitigation
Polymers
In: Polymers, vol. 12, no. 10, article 2289, 2020.
Abstract
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.
FLEC use
FLEC mention, comparison or reference
This review describes portable emission cells, identifies FLEC and DOSEC by name, discusses their coupling with GC-MS, and includes FLEC in an analytical-method table. Because this is review and table coverage rather than a primary contribution developing, validating or comparing FLEC, it is classified as mention; the authors did not conduct new FLEC measurements.