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. 2017 Nov 23;14(12):1443.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph14121443.

Factors Effecting the Total Volatile Organic Compound (TVOC) Concentrations in Slovak Households

Ľudmila Mečiarová  1 , Silvia Vilčeková  2 , Eva Krídlová Burdová  3 , Jozef Kiselák  4
Affiliations

Factors Effecting the Total Volatile Organic Compound (TVOC) Concentrations in Slovak Households

Ľudmila Mečiarová et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Thirty five Slovak households were selected for an investigation of indoor environmental quality. Measuring of indoor air physical and chemical factors and a questionnaire survey was performed during May 2017. The range of permissible operative temperature was not met in 11% of objects. Relative humidity met the legislative requirements in all monitored homes. Concentrations of total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) were significantly higher in the apartments than in the family houses. The average TVOC levels in the apartments and family houses were 519.7 µg/m³ and 330.2 µg/m³, respectively. Statistical analysis confirmed the effect of indoor air temperature, relative humidity and particulate matter (PM0.5 and PM₁) on the levels of TVOCs. Higher TVOC levels were observed also in homes where it is not a common practice to open windows during cleaning activities. Other factors that had a statistically significant effect on concentrations of volatile organic compounds were heating type, attached garage, location of the apartment within residential building (the floor), as well as number of occupants. Higher TVOC concentrations were observed in indoor than outdoor environment, while further analysis showed the significant impact of indoor emission sources on the level of these compounds in buildings. The questionnaire study showed a discrepancy between objective measurement and subjective assessment in the household environment, and pointed to insufficient public awareness about volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Keywords: TVOC; characteristics; dependence; household; indoor environment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Overview of TVOC levels in homes across the different studies [28,29,30,31,32].
Figure 2
Figure 2
Problems with factors affecting the IEQ.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Prevalence of SBS symptoms.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Indoor air temperature.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Operative temperature.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Relative humidity.
Figure 7
Figure 7
PM2.5 concentrations.
Figure 8
Figure 8
PM10 concentrations.
Figure 9
Figure 9
TVOC concentrations—the apartments.
Figure 10
Figure 10
TVOC concentrations—the family houses.
Figure 11
Figure 11
I/O ratio of TVOC levels.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Shepard plot.
Figure 13
Figure 13
Dependence of continuous variables.
Figure 14
Figure 14
Boxplot of total medians—the apartments and family houses.
Figure 15
Figure 15
Boxplot of total medians—windows opening during cleaning activities.
Figure 16
Figure 16
NMDS visualizing the level of similarity for the factor—windows opening during cleaning activities.
Figure 17
Figure 17
NMDS visualizing the level of similarity for the factor—attached garage.
Figure 18
Figure 18
NMDS visualizing the level of similarity for the factor—type of heating.
Figure 19
Figure 19
NMDS visualizing the level of similarity for the factor—floor of the apartments.
Figure 20
Figure 20
NMDS visualizing the level of similarity for the factor—windows opening during cleaning activities.
Figure 21
Figure 21
Boxplot of total medians—attached garage.
Figure 22
Figure 22
Boxplot of total medians—type of heating.
Figure 23
Figure 23
Boxplot of total medians—floor of the apartments.
Figure 24
Figure 24
Boxplot of total medians—number of users.
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