Abstract
This study aims to examine the effects of moisture content (MC) on the emission of PAEs level from the plastic building materials – the plastic wallpaper. DEHP is selected as the measured target for the emission profile. The plastic wallpaper with highest DEHP level (2,160.67 μg/g, 0.22%) was adopted in the current experiment. Three experimental conditions with different MC% levels of wallpapers are conducted: (A) without wallpaper (control chamber), (B) 3% (dry wallpaper) and (C) 50% (wallpaper soaked in water for 30 minutes). Air and dust samples were collected every second day over 15 days, and the wipe sample was collected in the last day. Higher DEHP concentrations emitted into the air and deposited on the dust are found with higher MC% of the wallpapers (Figure 1). An increasing trend of DEHP levels are associated with the length of the experiment can be found in the air sample (Table 1). Overall, about 43% higher of total DEHP mass released into air, dust and wipe samples was found in the damp wallpapers (MC = 50%) compared to that in the dry ones (MC = 3%). It is suggested that the material should be got rid of within 4 days once it has been damaged by water because of the emission of DEHP mass was found to be increased from the 4th day. It is the first study to evaluate the effects of material moisture on the emission of sVOCs in indoor environments.
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