Emission rates of substances from low-volatile-organic-compound paints

N Suzuki,H Nakaoka,K Takaya,Y Nakayama,M Hanazato,C Mori

doi:10.1007/s13762-018-2093-0

Abstract

Globally, sick building syndrome remains a considerable social issue. It is primarily caused by the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from construction materials. Among these, paints and sealers are used over wide swaths of are a and their use causes chemical substances to be released in a room. To prevent sick building syndrome, it is necessary to clarify the cause of air quality changes due to the different types of paints and sealers available. Recently, low-VOC paints (containing 0.3–1.0% VOCs) have been used widely; however, the effects of reducing VOC levels have not yet been fully quantified. This study aims to clarify the chemical compositions by conducting an emission rate test of these low-VOC paints and sealers. We prepared six specimens and used them for chamber testing. Three types of paint with and without a sealer were tested. The minimum and maximum total volatile organic compound (TVOC) concentration was 96 and 4750 μgm−2 h−1, respectively. Differences in the VOC content of the paints and sealers could be confirmed. The main TVOC was Texanol™ and glycerol ethers. The results demonstrate that using paints containing less than 0.3% VOCs can decrease the VOC emission rate considerably compared to paints classified as less than 1% VOCs. Moreover, because different kinds of sealers affected the results, it is possible to decrease VOC emission rate using a variety of sealers.

Highlights

The enactment of interior concentration guideline values by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare of Japan (MHLW) and the revision of the Building Standard Law have been accompanied by the declining reports of sick building syndrome (SBS); the SBS problem remains unresolved
I.e., Paint A (PA), Paint B (PB), and Paint C (PC), that conform with class 1 composite emulsion paints categorized as W1 (VOC content lower than 1%), and three types of sealers, i.e., Sealer A (SA), Sealer B (SB), and Sealer C (SC), were tested in assorted combinations
Styrene was detected in all the samples except those of PB, PB + SB, and PC; 1.2 μgm−2 h−1 styrene in the sample of PA, 1.3 μgm−2 h−1 in that of PA + SA, and PA

Summary

Introduction

The enactment of interior concentration guideline values by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare of Japan (MHLW) and the revision of the Building Standard Law have been accompanied by the declining reports of sick building syndrome (SBS); the SBS problem remains unresolved. The symptoms of SBS vary greatly between individuals. The concentration of every chemical substance that causes SBS symptoms and the sensitivity to each chemical varies between individuals. (Norbäck et al 1990a, b; Nordström et al 1995) For these reasons, specifying the causes of SBS is extremely difficult and it is still treated as a social problem. Increasing the airtightness and building insulation levels have caused the chemical substances emitted from building materials and interior finishing to remain in homes for a longer duration, deteriorating interior air quality.

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