TY - JOUR
T1 - Indoor volatile organic compounds in atopy patients' houses in South Korea
AU - Choi, Dal Woong
AU - Moon, Kyong Whan
AU - Byeon, Sang Hoon
AU - Lee, Eun Il
AU - Sul, Dong Geun
AU - Lee, Jang Hee
AU - Oh, Eun Ha
AU - Kim, Young Hwan
PY - 2009/4
Y1 - 2009/4
N2 - This study was undertaken to determine the concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the indoor air of atopy patients' (atopic dermatitis 50, allergic asthma 36) and control houses (28 nonpatients). A goal of this study was also to investigate whether indoor VOCs were risk factors for the development of atopic sensitization. Eleven alkanes, 13 aromatics, 7 chlorinated hydrocarbons, 3 terpenes, and 15 aldehyds were measured from 10 March to 15 June, 2006. Aldehyde compounds are the most abundant chemical group in all indoor air, followed by aromatic compounds. The geometric mean concentrations of total VOC (TVOC) in indoor air in atopic dermatitis and allergic asthma patients' houses were 317.1 and 219.2 mg m -3, respectively. However, TVOC concentrations did not differ significantly between control and patient houses in indoor and outdoor air. The geometric mean concentrations of benzene, ethylbenzene (p<0.05), o-xylene, m-, p-xylene, styrene, levels of 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene and formaldehyde (p<0.01) in the indoor air of houses of patients with atopic dermatitis, and levels of o-xylene and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene (p<0.01) in houses of allergic asthma patients were significantly higher than those in control houses. The multiple linear regression model in this study indicated several indoor origins of VOCs. House age and floor or wall coverings that had been refurbished within 1 year were correlated with higher concentrations of formaldehyde. Limonene and α-pinene concentrations were significantly increased by the replacement of furniture and the use of cleaning products. The type of heating system was significantly associated with indoor benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, nonane, decane, and undecane concentrations in atopy patient houses.
AB - This study was undertaken to determine the concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the indoor air of atopy patients' (atopic dermatitis 50, allergic asthma 36) and control houses (28 nonpatients). A goal of this study was also to investigate whether indoor VOCs were risk factors for the development of atopic sensitization. Eleven alkanes, 13 aromatics, 7 chlorinated hydrocarbons, 3 terpenes, and 15 aldehyds were measured from 10 March to 15 June, 2006. Aldehyde compounds are the most abundant chemical group in all indoor air, followed by aromatic compounds. The geometric mean concentrations of total VOC (TVOC) in indoor air in atopic dermatitis and allergic asthma patients' houses were 317.1 and 219.2 mg m -3, respectively. However, TVOC concentrations did not differ significantly between control and patient houses in indoor and outdoor air. The geometric mean concentrations of benzene, ethylbenzene (p<0.05), o-xylene, m-, p-xylene, styrene, levels of 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene and formaldehyde (p<0.01) in the indoor air of houses of patients with atopic dermatitis, and levels of o-xylene and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene (p<0.01) in houses of allergic asthma patients were significantly higher than those in control houses. The multiple linear regression model in this study indicated several indoor origins of VOCs. House age and floor or wall coverings that had been refurbished within 1 year were correlated with higher concentrations of formaldehyde. Limonene and α-pinene concentrations were significantly increased by the replacement of furniture and the use of cleaning products. The type of heating system was significantly associated with indoor benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, nonane, decane, and undecane concentrations in atopy patient houses.
KW - Allergic asthma
KW - Atopic dermatitis
KW - Formaldehyde
KW - Indoor air quality
KW - Volatile organic compounds
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=63649159857&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=63649159857&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1420326X08101945
DO - 10.1177/1420326X08101945
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:63649159857
VL - 18
SP - 144
EP - 154
JO - Indoor and Built Environment
JF - Indoor and Built Environment
SN - 1420-326X
IS - 2
ER -