Table 6. Compilation of Indoor-Related Formaldehyde Emission Studiesa.
| material | T (°C) | r.h. (%) | L (m2 m−3) | n (h−1) | HCHO emission | comment | yearref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| chipboard | 22 | 35 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.70 ppm | 1975(230) | |
| particle board | 22 | 30 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.40 ppm | 1980(234) | |
| 27 | 60 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 1.70 ppm | |
||
| 27 | 30 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.80 ppm | |
||
| 22 | 60 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.90 ppm | |
||
| particle board | 25 | 50 | 0.131−0.426 | 0.25−0.50 | 0.095−0.29 ppm | 10 samples | 1987(233) |
| OSB | 23 | 45 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.01−0.09 ppm | 31 samples (median: 0.04 ppm) | 2008(246) |
| solid wood | 23 | 45 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2−9 ppb | beech, Douglas fir, oak, spruce, pine | 1996(43) |
| UF wood products (bare) | 22 | 50 | 0.46 | 1.0 | 8.6−1580 μg m2 h−1 | 19 samples (median: 164 μg m2 h−1) | 1999(73) |
| UF wood products (bare) | 27 | 50 | 0.46 | 0.3 | 6.8−1170 μg m2 h−1 | 19 samples (median: 158 μg m2 h−1) | |
| PF wood products (bare) | 22 | 50 | 0.46 | 1.0 | 4.1−9.2 μg m2 h−1 | 4 samples | |
| PF wood products (bare) | 27 | 50 | 0.46 | 0.3 | 9.5−13 μg m2 h−1 | 4 samples | |
| UF wood products (coated) | 22 | 50 | 0.46 | 1.0 | <2.7−460 μg m2 h−1 | 14 samples (median: 8.6 μg m2 h−1) | |
| UF wood products (coated) | 27 | 50 | 0.46 | 0.3 | 4.6−1300 μg m2 h−1 | 14 samples (median: 15 μg m2 h−1) | |
| decorative laminates | 22 | 50 | 1.83 | 1.0 | 4.0−51 μg m2 h−1 | 3 samples | |
| cabinetry materials | 23 | 50 | 1.9 | 5.7 | 8−470 μg m2 h−1 | particle board, hard board, plywood | 2002(243) |
| particle board (18 mm) | 25 | 50 | 2.16 | 0.5 | 0.45 mg m2 h−1 | 7 days after sample installation | 2006(247) |
| MDF (18 mm) | 25 | 50 | 2.16 | 0.5 | 0.33 mg m2 h−1 | 7 days after sample installation | |
| laminate | 25 | 50 | 2.16 | 0.5 | 0.03 mg m2 h−1 | 7 days after sample installation | |
| engineered flooring | 25 | 50 | 2.16 | 0.5 | 0.04 mg m2 h−1 | 7 days after sample installation | |
| floor covering: natural wood | 23.2 | n.d. | n.d. | n.d | 288 μg m2 h−1 | 1 h exposure to 750 ppb ozone | 2009(256) |
| floor covering: wood-based | 23.2 | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | 31 μg m2 h−1 | 1 h exposure to 750 ppb ozone | |
| floor covering: PVCb | n.d. | 50 | 505 | 514−686 | <5−18 μg m2 h−1 | new building (mean: 9 μg m2 h−1) | 2007(250) |
| floor covering: parquetb | n.d. | 50 | 505 | 514−686 | <5−10 μg m2 h−1 | new building (mean: 7 μg m2 h−1) | |
| ceilingb | n.d. | 50 | 505 | 514−686 | 5−96 μg m2 h−1 | new building (mean: 42 μg m2 h−1) | |
| wallsb | n.d. | 50 | 505 | 514−686 | <5−11 μg m2 h−1 | new building (mean: 7 μg m2 h−1) | |
| mineral wool | 23 | 45 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.02−0.10 ppm | 5 samples (4 samples <0.05 ppm) | 1993(249) |
| fiberglass products | 23 | 50 | 0.87−1.04 | 1.0 | 16−32 μg m2 h−1 | 3 samples | 1999(73) |
| wall coverings | 23 | 45 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.05−0.035 ppm | 10 samples (median: 0.015 ppm) | 1993(70) |
| carpet | 23 | 45 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 8−15 μg m−3 | 4 samples, 24 h values | 2008(251) |
| latex paint | n.d. | 18−58 | flow chamber (2.5 L/min) | 0.13−6.29 μg h−1 | 11 samples exposed to ozone | 1995(88) | |
| paints | 22 | 50 | 1.04 | 1.0 | 326−663 μg m2 h−1 | 3 products, initial emission | 1999(73) |
| paints | 22 | 50 | 1.04 | 1.0 | 8.1−9.8 μg m2 h−1 | 3 products, final emission | |
| carpet | 23 | 50 | n.d. | 7 | 4−30 μg m2 h−1 | 4 samples exposed to ozone | 2006(85) |
| household products | 21−23 | 36−55 | n.d. | 0.95−1.08 | 8.2−23.7 ppb | 3 products exposed to ozone | 2006(83) |
| textiles | 22 | 50 | 7.05 | 1.0 | 107 μg m2 h−1 | permanent-press T-shirts (unwashed) | 1999(73) |
| 42 μg m2 h−1 | permanent-press T-shirts (washed) | ||||||
| temporary housing units | 22−25 | 49−58 | n.d. | 0.15−0.39 | 164−266 μg m2 h−1 | morning (unoccupied) | 2008(307) |
| 26−30 | 46−49 | 257−347 μg m2 h−1 | afternoon (unoccupied) | ||||
| photocopy machines | 26−31 | 30−35 | 1c | 2.0 | <500−2600 μg h−1 | 4 dry-process photocopy machines | 1996(441) |
| building products | 23 | 30−50 | 8.2−14.7 | 12 | 5.5−40.6 μg m2 h−1 | 14 products exposed to ozone | 2007(71) |
| burning of incense | 23 | 50 | 0.5 | ca. 20−300 μg m−3 | 3 sticks in 18.26 m3 chamber | 2004(260) | |
| |
ca. 300−1700 μg g−1 | 10 products tested | |||||
| wood burning | 180−710 mg kg−1 | 4 samples (birch) tested in wood stove | 2002(55) | ||||
| wood burning | 599−1165 mg kg−1 | oak, pine, eucalyptus | 2001(56) | ||||
| cigarette smoking | 20−25 | 45−55 | 0.022 | 234.1 μg m−3 | average of 8 commercial cigarettes | 2004(98) | |
| experimental cigarettes | 30−57 μg cigarette−1 | 13 cigarettes with added saccharides | 2006(261) | ||||
| formaldehyde in breath | 1.2−72.7 ppb | median: 4.3 ppb (deep lung portion) | 2005(105) | ||||
a
The emission values are presented as they appear in the references.
b
Measured on site by use of the FLEC.
c
Units per volume.