Evaluation of indoor and outdoor air quality in university academic buildings and associated health risk

Investigation of simultaneous volatile organic compound removal by indoor plants using solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are significant indoor air pollutants, and employing plants offers a simple and cost-effective approach to reduce their concentration. It is important to determine which plant exhibits greater efficiency in removing specific VOCs. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of various common indoor plants in simultaneously removing multiple hazardous VOCs. A sealed chamber was utilized to expose five different species of houseplants to eight commonly found VOCs. The concentrations of each compound were monitored over an extended period using solid phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The study determined and reported the efficiency of removal per leaf area for all compounds by each plant under different conditions, including removal by the entire plant (with and without light) and removal by the plant's leaf area. The paper discusses the efficiency and rate of removal of each VOC for the tested plants, namely Chlorophytum comosum, Crassula argentea, Guzmania lingulata, Consolea falcata, and Dracaena fragrans.

Indoor Volatile Organic Compounds: Concentration Characteristics and Health Risk Analysis on a University Campus

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are major indoor air pollutants that contain several toxic substances. However, there are few studies on health risk assessments of indoor VOCs in China. This study aimed to determine the concentration characteristics of VOCs on college campuses by collecting VOC samples from different locations on campus during different seasons combined with the exposure times of college students in each location obtained from a questionnaire survey to assess the possible health risks. The highest total VOC concentration (254 ± 101 µg/m³) was in the dormitory. The seasonal variation of TVOC concentrations was related to the variation of emission sources in addition to temperature. Health risk assessments of VOCs were evaluated using non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk values, represented by hazard quotient (HQ) and lifetime cancer risk (LCR), respectively. The non-carcinogenic risks at all sampling sites were within the safe range (HQ < 1). Dormitories had the highest carcinogenic risk, whereas the carcinogenic risk in the other three places was low (with LCR < 1.0 × 10^-6). Moreover, 1,2-dichloroethane was identified as a possible carcinogenic risk substance in the dormitory due to its high LCR (1.95 × 10^-6). This study provides basic data on health risks in different locations on campus and a basis for formulating measures to improve people's living environments.