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. 2022 Mar;32(3):e13021.
doi: 10.1111/ina.13021.

Modification of cleaning product formulations could improve indoor air quality

Nicola Carslaw  1 , David Shaw  1
Affiliations

Modification of cleaning product formulations could improve indoor air quality

Nicola Carslaw et al. Indoor Air. 2022 Mar.

Abstract

Cleaning products contain numerous individual chemicals, which can be liberated on use. These species can react in air to form new chemical species, some of which are harmful to health. This paper uses a detailed chemical model for indoor air chemistry, to understand the chemical reactions that can occur following cleaning, assuming cleaning products with different proportions of limonene, α-pinene, and β-pinene are used. The tests included the pure compounds, 50:50 mixtures and mixtures in proportion to the rates of reaction with ozone and the hydroxyl radical. For the 3 h following cleaning, pure α-pinene was most efficient at producing particles, pure limonene for nitrated organic material, and a 50:50 mixture of β-pinene and limonene for formaldehyde, leading to enhancements of 1.1 μg/m3 , 400 ppt, and 1.8 ppb, respectively, compared to no cleaning. Cleaning in the afternoon enhanced concentrations of secondary pollutants for all the mixtures, owing to higher outdoor and hence indoor ozone compared to the morning. These enhancements in concentrations lasted several hours, despite the cleaning emissions only lasting for 10 min. Doubling the air exchange rate enhanced concentrations of formaldehyde and particulate matter by ~15% while reducing that of nitrated organic material by 13%. Changing product formulations has the potential to change the resulting indoor air quality and consequently, impacts on health.

Keywords: cleaning product formulations; fragrances; indoor air chemistry; indoor air modeling; indoor oxidation.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Connections between key indoor air species indoors, where HO2, hydroperoxy radical; NO, nitric oxide; NO2, nitrogen dioxide; O3, ozone; OH, hydroxy radical; RO2, generic term for organic peroxy radicals; VOC, volatile organic compounds
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Concentrations or mixing ratios of (a) OH, (b) HO2, and (c) RO2 radicals in the upper, middle, and lower plots, respectively, between 07:30 and 14:00 h during the different model simulations
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Concentrations of O3, NO, and NO2 in the upper, middle, and lower plots, respectively, between 07:30 and 14:00 h during the different model simulations
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Concentrations of HCHO, nitrated organic material (NOM), and PM2.5 in the upper, middle, and lower plots, respectively, between 07:30 and 14:00 h during the different model simulations
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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