Abstract |
The paper gives results from EPA studies on the effect of ventilation (air changes per hour) and material loading on the emission rate for selected organics and total measured organics from three wood finishing materials (stain, polyurethane, and wax). The data are analyzed to show the effect of ventilation on the emission characteristics of each material. The rate of emission of organic compounds from building materials varies according to type of material, material loading (area of material/volume of room), compound emitted, temperature, humidity, and ventilation rate. For some compounds and materials (e.g., formaldehyde from particleboard), the relationship between emission rate and these variables is well established. For most materials and compounds, however, such relationships are unavailable. Research, using small test chambers, is being conducted by EPA to develop data on emission rates from a variety of building materials. |