Emissions of VOCs and SVOCs from polyvinyl chloride building materials: Contribution to indoor odor and inhalation health risks

Abstract

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) emitted from indoor building materials may cause indoor air pollution and adverse health effects to residents. However, limited information is available on the odor and health risks of VOCs and SVOCs emissions from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials, which are widely used for interior decoration. In this study, the concentration of VOCs and SVOCs emitted from PVC wallpaper and flooring were tested by the emission chamber method and micro-chamber method. Hazards of PVC building materials to people in terms of odor contribution and inhalation health risks were then illustrated. Results showed that 14 VOCs (including four alkanes, one aromatic, and nine oxygenated compounds) and 4 SVOCs (including methyl hexadecanoate, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DOA), and di-2-ethylhexyl terephthalate (DOTP)) were detected in the PVC wallpaper and flooring sample emissions. Triethyl phosphate (55.3%) was the main VOC emitted from PVC wallpaper materials, while cyclohexanone (22.4%), n-butyl acetate (21.6%), and 4-methyl-2-pentanone (12.7%) were major VOCs emitted from PVC flooring materials. DOA (1.76 mg/m3) and methyl hexadecanoate (13.0 mg/m3) were the SVOCs with the highest emission concentrations in PVC flooring and wallpaper, respectively. The dominant substances causing odor pollution from PVC wallpaper and flooring were methyl hexadecanoate and cyclohexanone, and cyclohexanone and n-butyl acetate, respectively. The health risk results indicated that the carcinogenic risks (R) of DEHP were below the acceptable level, and the non-carcinogenic effects (HQ) of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol and cyclohexanone were much greater than the acceptable level (HQ = 1) and should be given special attention.