Impact of Ventilation Rate, Ozone and Limonene on Perceived Air Quality in Offices

Paper in proceeding, 2002

The objective of this study has been to clarify to what extent ozone (03) and 03 !limonene in interaction with surface materials has an impact on the indoor air quality in typical low-polluting offices at various, realistic air change rates. Changes of environmental conditions were performed seven days before the chemical sampling. Organic compounds were collected on Tenax TA adsorbent tubes and the samples were analysed by gas chromatography with flame ionisation and mass selective detectors. The concentration of Total Volatile Organic Compounds were as expected found to be inversely proportional to air change rates. Aldehydes and organic acids were found at increased levels when the air change rate was decreased from 1.0 h1 to 0.3 h1. Increased ventilation rate to 3.0 h1 did not induce additional changes in the chemical composition of aldehydes and organic acids. The fractions of aldehydes and organic acids relative to nonreactive alkanes indicated that chemical transformation in the indoor environment indeed took place; however, it could not be clearly specified whether the chemical changes were of homogeneous or heterogeneous character. The effects of 03 and 03 /limonene in interaction with surface materials in the offices over seven weeks showed different reaction pattems depending material and treatment.