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An Inter-comparison of VOC Types and Distribution in Different Indoor Environments in a University Campus

Department of Building Services Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Cinnie S.Y. Tam

Department of Building Services Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, bekionga{at}polyu.edu.hk

A.P. Jones

School of Architecture, Cardiff University, Wales, UK

Although volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are major indoor air pollutants and ones which may affect human health it is rare to find a study about their types and distribution pattern in a university. To remedy this large-scale sampling of VOCs was conducted at different indoor environments on a university campus in Hong Kong when the HVAC system was turned on. The 54 sites selected for sampling included classrooms, offices, dining and kitchen area of canteens, workshops, laboratories and a library. All the buildings were served with mechanical ventilation and an air conditioning (MVAC) system. Samples were analysed by the USEPA's TO-14 method. VOCs discovered were divided arbitrarily into three categories: fluorinated compounds, non-aromatic chlorinated compounds and aromatic compounds. Among the VOCs detected by the TO-14 method, toluene and benzene were the most common compounds present on the campus and were present in all the samples taken. The main source for those two VOCs was ingress from outdoors.

Key Words: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) • TO-14 method • University campus

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Indoor and Built Environment, Vol. 16, No. 4, 376-382 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1420326X07081094


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Chan, D. W.T. Articles by Jones, A.P. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?