United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Research and Development
EPA/600/SR-93/108a September 1993
Project Summary
Catalog of Materials as
Sources of Potential Indoor Air
Emissions, Volume I. Insulation,
Wallcoverings, Resilient Floor
Coverings, Carpet, Adhesives,
Sealants and Caulks, and
Pesticides
A. Leininger, K. A. Scott, E. C. Sarsony, L. C. Huff, C. R. Blackley,
and M. B. Stockton
This report discusses and presents
data on constituents and emissions
from products that have the potential
to affect the indoor air environment. It
is a tool to be used by researchers to
help organize the study of materials as
potential sources of indoor air emis-
sions. Included in it are sections on
seven product categories: insulation,
wallcoverings, resilient floor coverings,
carpet, adhesives, sealants and caulks,
and pesticides. Each section presents
a classification scheme for the prod-
uct, sales and usage volume data, quali-
tative data on product composition, and
quantitative and qualitative data on
emission rates to the indoor air. Emis-
sions information is presented only for
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) be-
cause these are the compounds most
likely to be emitted from materials found
in homes and office buildings. Data
tables summarizing available emissions
and constituent data are provided and
are organized according to the classifi-
cation scheme present for each prod-
uct category.
This Project Summary was developed
by EPA's Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory, Research Triangle
Park, NC, to announce key findings of
the research project that is fully docu-
mented in a separate report of the same
title (see Project Report ordering infor-
mation at back).
Introduction
The report gives information on con-
stituents and emissions from products that
have the potential to contribute to indoor
air contamination. It is a tool to be used by
researchers to help organize study of ma-
terials as potential sources of indoor air
emissions. The materials addressed in
Volume I include adhesives, caulks, and
sealants, carpet, insulation products, pes-
ticide products, resilient floor coverings,
and wallcoverings. Additional products will
be addressed in Volume II. Information on
product usage volumes, volatile organic
compound (VOC) constituents, and VOC
emissions data are included. The emis-
sions information presented focuses on
VOCs. Information on the volatile constitu-
ents in products gives an indication of
pollutants that could potentially be emitted.
Finally, a summary compilation of existing
emissions data indicates how well-charac-
terized different products are in terms of
their contribution to indoor air emissions.
Classification of Materials as
Sources
Prior to development of this catalog, a
classification system was developed to
identify all products that could potentially
) Printed on Recycled Paper
-------
be brought into homes and office build-
ings. The system identifies and classifies
material of all types brought into or used to
construct and renovate homes and office
buildings. The classification study was de-
signed to lay a foundation for a systematic
analysis of the role of materials in influenc-
ing indoor air quality. The products in-
cluded were organized based on the
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) sys-
tem. Sales information was included for
each product. From this list of materials, a
subset was developed that represented
those products thought to contribute to
indoor air pollution. Three factors were
used to develop this list:
The quantity of product produced:
How pervasive is the product in the
environment?
Compositional information: Based
on readily available published in-
formation, what volatile compounds
could potentially be emitted?
The nature of its use: What is the
likelihood of human contact with
emissions from these materials?
The categories presented in this cata-
log were chosen from the classification
scheme based on the above criteria. Each
category studied was further defined to
make data gathering efforts and presenta-
tion of data useful. Individual classification
schemes were developed for each cat-
egory with two goals in mind: to develop a
useful scheme to present the variety of
products in the category; and to present
usage and constituent and emissions data
for the various products in each product
category in a manner that allows easy
comparison of available information.
Sources of Information
A wide variety of information sources
were identified that provided data on chemi-
cal constituents and emissions from the
materials under study. Table 1 summa-
rizes the information source type used to
develop the catalog. In addition, several
databases were identified that contain in-
formation potentially useful to the catalog.
Table 2 summarizes these databases.
While data-gathering efforts were not ex-
haustive because of time constraints, they
were extensive for each product category
studied. Information presented in this cata-
log is a good representation of the current
state of knowledge regarding constituents
and their emission rates.
Note that the data presented in this
catalog did not go through EPA quality
assurance. Rather, data from published
sources are assumed to have undergone
quality assurance and peer review checks
prior to publication. For information and
assessment of the quality of any particular
study presented here, the reader should
refer to the originally cited reference.
Data Management
Data gathered for each product include
sales data, emissions data, and constitu-
ent data. Because of the large volume and
diversity of the data collected, data man-
agement tools were developed to assist in
tracking, sorting, searching, and summa-
rizing the collected information. Pertinent
data from each reference were recorded
on data entry forms and entered into a
simple database to store, sort, and report
the information. Use of a standard data
entry form ensured that all data obtained
from each reference were recorded in the
same manner and could be reported in a
manner that allows easy comparison across
products. Data identified in the literature
did not undergo extensive quality assur-
ance as part of this project, and the techni-
cal accuracy of the data presented in the
catalog may vary from source to source.
Complete reference citations for all data
presented in the catalog are included.
Readers are encouraged to refer to origi-
nal references to learn more about the
studies for which data are presented.
VOC Emission Rates from Mate-
rials
An appendix to the catalog includes
tables presenting information on emission
rates from materials included in the cata-
log. The emission rates presented in these
tables were determined through test cham-
ber experiments and headspace studies.
The data are sorted by compound and, for
each compound, a list of materials that
were found to emit that particular com-
pound is given. In some cases, qualitative
data on compounds emitted are given. In
these cases, the information is often de-
rived from a headspace study where it is
possible to identify the chemicals emitted,
but not at what rate. For example, all mate-
rials that were found to emit formaldehyde
are listed in one table.
Conclusions
The approaches used to identify and
collect relevant constituent and emissions
information for building materials, fixtures
and furnishings, and consumer products
were successful for most product chap-
ters. Literature surveys and telephone con-
tacts with trade associations proved
lucrative in all product chapters. Industry
studies, in which manufacturing processes
were examined and retailers/wholesalers
contacted, were good sources of informa-
tion for products that were not well charac-
terized elsewhere. For example, many
formulary references describe the constitu-
ents in most adhesives, but no such refer-
ence was identified for wallcoverings.
Information presented in each product
chapter allows determination of a product's
potential to emit VOCs to the indoor air.
How a product is formulated often deter-
mines its potential to emit. Determination
of the extent to which each product in a
product chapter influences indoor air qual-
ity varied from chapter to chapter based on
the extent of constituent and emissions
data available for that product chapter.
This catalog represents a valuable resource
for developing emission testing plans, ex-
perimental design parameters, and proto-
cols. For example, the sealants and caulks
chapter describes the emission mecha-
nisms for chemicals that are emitted, and
the insulation chapter describes differences
between wet and dry samples.
Finally, the information presented in
this catalog provides a clear message that
many product categories are not well stud-
ied with respect to their potential impact on
indoor air quality. The data gaps that are
evident in the catalog provide useful infor-
mation for organizing future studies on
emissions from materials found in homes
and offices.
Table 1. Summary of Data Sources
Literature Searches
Industry Contacts
Other Sources
Published Technical Studies
Conference Proceedings
On-line Technical Databases
Journals
Trade Publications
Manufacturers
Trade Associations
Retailers/Distributors
Architects
Contractors
Installers
Independent Researchers
State and Federal Agencies
Academic Institutions
Databases
-------
Table 2. Databases Identified
Database Name Responsible Organization
NASA Lockheed Engineering and Sciences Company
Concentration of Indoor Air Pollutants Lawrence Berkeley Laboratories
(CIP)
Building Performance Theodor Sterling Associates
Navy U.S. Department of the Navy
NIOSH National Institute of Occupational Safety and
Health
FIFRA and TSCA Enforcement System, Radian Corporation
(FATES)
Non-occupational Pesticide Exposure Study, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Atmospheric
(HOPES) Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory
Eco-Search Eco-Search
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 19*3 - 750-071/MOS4
-------
A. Leininger, K. Scott, C. Sarsony, L. Huff, C. Blackley, and M. Stockton are with
Radian Corp., Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.
James B. White is the EPA Project Officer (see below).
The complete report, entitled "Catalog of Materials as Sources of Potential Indoor
Air Emissions, Volume I. Insulation, Wallcoverings, Resilient Floor Coverings,
Carpet, Adhesives, Sealants and Caulks, and Pesticides," (Order No. PB93-
212041; Cost: $36.50; subject to change) will be available only from:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: 703-487-4650
The 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
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use
$300
BULK RATE
POSTAGE & FEES PAID
EPA
PERMIT No. G-35
EPA/600/SR-93/108a
------- |