Chemicals in European residences – Part I: A review of emissions, concentrations and health effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Christos H. Halios; Charlotte Landeg-Cox; Scott D. Lowther; Alice Middleton; Tim Marczylo; Sani Dimitroulopoulou

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156201

Chemicals in European residences – Part I: A review of emissions, concentrations and health effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Christos H. Halios
, Charlotte Landeg-Cox
, Scott D. Lowther
, Alice Middleton
, Tim Marczylo
, Sani Dimitroulopoulou^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

198 Citations (Scopus)

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.

Original language	English
Article number	156201
Journal	Science of the Total Environment, The
Volume	839
Early online date	24 May 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156201
Publication status	Published - 15 Sept 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information: This study is part funded by the National Institute for Health Research ( NIHR ) Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Exposures and Health, a partnership between UK Health Security Agency and Imperial College London. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR, UK Health Security Agency or the Department of Health and Social Care.

Open Access: No Open Access licence

Publisher Copyright: © 2022 Elsevier B.V.

Citation: Halios, Christos H., et al. "Chemicals in European residences–Part I: A review of emissions, concentrations and health effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)." Science of The Total Environment (2022): 156201.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156201

Keywords

Emissions
European residences
Health effects
Indoor
VOCs

Access to Document

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156201

Cite this

@article{02270c8a41bb457895ba63bfb96648fb,

title = "Chemicals in European residences – Part I: A review of emissions, concentrations and health effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)",

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.",

keywords = "Emissions, European residences, Health effects, Indoor, VOCs",

author = "Halios, \{Christos H.\} and Charlotte Landeg-Cox and Lowther, \{Scott D.\} and Alice Middleton and Tim Marczylo and Sani Dimitroulopoulou",

note = "Funding Information: This study is part funded by the National Institute for Health Research ( NIHR ) Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Exposures and Health, a partnership between UK Health Security Agency and Imperial College London. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR, UK Health Security Agency or the Department of Health and Social Care. Open Access: No Open Access licence Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 Elsevier B.V. Citation: Halios, Christos H., et al. {"}Chemicals in European residences–Part I: A review of emissions, concentrations and health effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).{"} Science of The Total Environment (2022): 156201. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156201",

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doi = "10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156201",

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volume = "839",

journal = "Science of the Total Environment, The",

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T2 - A review of emissions, concentrations and health effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

AU - Halios, Christos H.

AU - Landeg-Cox, Charlotte

AU - Lowther, Scott D.

AU - Middleton, Alice

AU - Marczylo, Tim

AU - Dimitroulopoulou, Sani

N1 - Funding Information: This study is part funded by the National Institute for Health Research ( NIHR ) Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Exposures and Health, a partnership between UK Health Security Agency and Imperial College London. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR, UK Health Security Agency or the Department of Health and Social Care. Open Access: No Open Access licence Publisher Copyright: © 2022 Elsevier B.V. Citation: Halios, Christos H., et al. "Chemicals in European residences–Part I: A review of emissions, concentrations and health effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)." Science of The Total Environment (2022): 156201. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156201

PY - 2022/9/15

Y1 - 2022/9/15

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Emissions

KW - European residences

KW - Health effects

KW - Indoor

KW - VOCs

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85131461548

U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156201

DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156201

M3 - Review article

C2 - 35623519

AN - SCOPUS:85131461548

SN - 0048-9697

VL - 839

JO - Science of the Total Environment, The

JF - Science of the Total Environment, The

M1 - 156201

ER -

Chemicals in European residences – Part I: A review of emissions, concentrations and health effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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