United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Research and Development
EPA/600/SR-92/025 April 1992
EPA Project Summary
Indoor Air Quality Data Base for
Organic Compounds
Max M. Samfield
A data base for concentrations of
organic compounds measured indoors
has been compiled. Based on a review
of the literature from 1979 through 1990,
the data base contains information on
over 220 compounds ranging in mo-
lecular weight from 30 to 446. The
compounds are arranged in order of
increasing number of carbon atoms, -
from 1 to 31. The data base contains:
the number of carbon atoms; the name
of the compound; its empirical formula;
its molecular weight; the odor thresh-
old (when available); the minimum,
maximum, median, and mean concen-
trations; the standard deviation; the ref-
erence number; the sampling time; and
the type of building. All concentration
data are given in micrograms per cubic
meter. The following compounds were
the most frequently reported: formal-
dehyde, tetrachloroethylene, 1,1,1-
trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, ben-
zene, p-dichlorobenzene, toluene,
ethylbenzene, xylenes, decane, and
undecane. About 50% of the reported
compounds contained 9 carbon atoms
or fewer, and 90% had 23 carbon at-
oms or fewer. Sampling times for the
pollutants varied from as little as 15
minutes to as long as 2 weeks. Grab
sampling, real time sampling, and inte-
grated sampling methods were used.
Odor thresholds for the pollutants re-
ported were, in general, three to five
orders of magnitude higher than the
measured concentrations.
This Project Summary was developed
by EPA's Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory, Research Tri-
angle Park, NC, to announce key find-
Ings of the research project that is fully
documented in a separate report of the
same title (see Project Report ordering
information at back).
Introduction
Many pollutants found in ambient air
are present to a larger extent in indoor air.
Thus, indoor air might present problems
with regard to potential health effects.
Since most of the efforts directed toward
ambient air analysis were with respect to
the criteria, pollutants, it was natural that
these pollutants would be the first to be
studied in indoor air. In indoor air, such
pollutants as carbon dioxide, carbon mon-
oxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate mat-
ter have been studied extensively.
Of the organic compounds, particularly
the volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
only formaldehyde has been studied ex-
tensively in indoor air. Yet many sources
of organic compounds in indoor air have
their origins in commonly used materials.
Such materials include caulking com-
pounds, hair sprays, rug cleaners, and
paints and varnishes. In addition, building
materials and interior furnishings (such as
furniture, floor tile, draperies, and rugs)
may be sources of organic compounds.
This report provides hard copy of a data
base of indoor concentrations of vapor-
phase organic compounds based on a
review of the literature through 1990. Disks
containing the data are not available.
Data Base Description
Appendix A of the report presents the
data base (see the example in Table 1).
It contains approximately 220 organic com-
pounds ranging from 1 - to 31 -carbon atom
Feinted on Recycled Paper
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Tabla 1. Example from IAQ Data Base
c
2
2
Compound
Acetaldebyde
Ethanol
Formula
C2H40
C2H60
Mol.
Wt.
44
46
Odor
Hfl/rti3 Mm.
1,980
20
93,000
2.070 + 05
Meas. Cone, fag/m3)
Max. Median
48
767
1374
408
Mean S.D.
17
2.1
, Ref.
1
24
3
3
3
Time
h
4-7D
8
0.25-3
0.25-3
0.25-3
Bldg.
Type
R,A
OB
R
R
R
2 N-Nltroso-Dimethytamino C2H6N20 74
0.33
0.17
AU
3 Propane
C3H8 44 1.80e + 06
42
0.25-3
3 Isopropanol (Propanol-2) C3H80 60
3 Acetone (Propanone) C3H60 58
3 Lactic Acid C3H603 90
90,000
14.8
7.70e + 05
2.12e + 05
47,500 28.8
1.60e + 05
140
258
80
137
157
67
1.8
0.6
3
3
3
6.9 24
37
39 1
7.5 24
37
10
10
0.25 - 3
0.25 - 3
0.25-3
8
4-7D
8
R
R
R
OB
OB
R,A
OB
OB
OB
OB
compounds. These compounds range in
molecular weight from 30 to 446. The
compounds are arranged in order of in-
creasing number of carbon atoms. The
data are taken from the references listed
In Appendix C. Reference numbers are
listed In the column labeled REF in the
data base.
The odor threshold values in the fifth
column of the primary data base were
taken from several references. In cases
where several odor threshold values are
given for tho same compound, the values
may differ by as much as an order of
magnitude. This should not be surprising
In view of the subjective judgement re-
quired in such tests. Also, different inves-
tigators used different test methods, and
the number of subjects involved varied
considerably. In some cases, impurities
in the test materials may have altered the
results.
Minimum, maximum, median, and/or
mean concentrations (in micrograms per
cubic meter) are presented in the appro-
priate columns. Where compounds were
identified but not quantified, all the col-
umns are blank. In most cases, decimal
notation is used; for very large and very
small numbers, scientific notation is used.
The standard deviations of the data are
also given, when available.
The column labeled TIME (second from
last column) is the sampling time in hours,
except where otherwise indicated. In this
column, a "D" indicates the time in days
and a "W indicates weeks.
In the column labeled BLDG. TYPE, the
type of building investigated is given as
follows: A = Apartment, AU = Automobile,
CB = Commercial Building, H = Hospital,
MH = Mobile Home, NH = Nursing Home,
OB = Office Building, R = Residence, S =
School, and V = Various types of build-
ings.
Appendix B of the report contains infor-
mation on "Sources of Indoor Organic
Compounds" (see the example in Table
2). It lists substantiated and possible
sources for most of the indoor pollutants
contained in the data base. The informa-
tion in Appendix B should be used with
some caution, because the composition
of materials and products changes over
time as manufacturers alter their manu-
facturing processes and products.
Observations
A review of the data shows concentra-
tions of pollutants ranging from below the
quantification level to more than 80,000
ug/m3. There is a paucity of data on the
standard deviation of concentration val-
ues reported in the literature. It is impor-
tant for users of the data to know the
standard deviation in order to know how
much confidence to place in the reported
values. Other than listing the standard
deviation, when reported, this report makes
no effort to judge the quality of the data.
To do this, the reader should obtain a
copy of the reference and use his or her
own judgement.
About 50% of the compounds listed con-
tained 9 carbon atoms or fewer; about
90% had 23 carbon atoms or fewer.
The following compounds were the most
frequently reported: formaldehyde,
tetrachloroethylene, 1,1,1 -trichloroethane,
trichloroethylene, benzene, p-dichloroben-
zene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, de-
cane, and undecane.
Sampling times for the pollutants varied
widely, from as little as 15 minutes to as
long as 2 weeks. Grab sampling, real
time sampling, and integrated sampling
were used.
Odor thresholds for the pollutants were,
in general, three to five orders of magni-
tude higher than the concentrations actu-
ally measured. One cannot, therefore,
expect to detect the presence of a pollut-
ant through odor alone.
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Table 2. Example from Source Data Base
Compound
Formula
Substantiated Sources
Possible Sources
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
Ethanol
N-Nitroso-Dimethylamine
Propane
Isopropanol
Acetone (Propanone)
Lactic Acid
PyruvicAcid
1, 2 - Dichloropropane
Dibromochloropropane
Ethylacetate
C2H60
C2H6N20
C3H8
C3H80
C3H60
C3H603
C3H403
C3H6C12
C3H5Br2CI
C4H802
fiberboard
auto interior furnishings
auto exhaust
particle board
lacquer solvent, auto exhaust
linoleum floor covering
solvent, antifreeze, tobacco smoke
gasoline
fuel gas, refrigerant, tobacco smoke
antifreeze, solvent for gums, shellac,
essential oils, cosmetics
tobacco smoke, Pharmaceuticals
medicinal ointments?
artificial fruit essences, solvent for
4 Butane C4H10
4 Isobutano C4H10
4 Diethylamine C4H11N
4 Dimethylacetamide C4H100N
4 N-Butylacetate C4H1002
4 l-Butylacetate C4H1002
4 1,4-Dioxane C4H802
4 N-Butanol C4H100
4 l-Butanol C4H100
4 Butanal C4H80
fuel, tobacco smoke
fuel
floor lacquer
floor lacquer
edge sealing molding tape,
jointing compound, cement
flagstone, linoleum
floor covering, floor lacquer,
architectural coating
varnishes and lacquers, perfume,
artificial leather
resins, dyes, phamtaceuticals, synthetic rubber
solvent for many otganic reactions
solvent for many oils, waxes, dyes, cellulose acetate
flavors, perfumes, industrial cleaners, paint removers
tobacco smoke, plasticizers
•&U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1992 - 648-080/40235
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M. Samfieid is a consultant.
Bruce A. Tfchenor is the EPA Project Officer (see below).
The complete report, entitled "Indoor Air Quality Data Base for Organic com-
pounds'(Order No. PB92-158 468/AS; Cost: $19.00; subject to change) will
be available only from:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: 703-487-4650
Tha EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Center for Environmental
Research Information
Cincinnati, OH 45268
BULK RATE
POSTAGE & FEES PAID
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PERMIT No. G-35
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EPA/600/SR-92/025
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