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Long-term indoor formaldehyde variations and health risk assessment in Chinese urban residences following renovation
Abstract Formaldehyde is a ubiquitous indoor gaseous pollutant classified as a human carcinogen. Indoor formaldehyde concentrations tend to change over time in newly renovated buildings. However, this variation is not typically considered in inhalation cancer risk assessments. In this study, long-term indoor formaldehyde concentrations in newly renovated residences in China were collected from related literature. A total of 66 data sets collected from 42 different studies in 38 cities were analyzed. An exponential model was used to describe the variation patterns of indoor concentrations. The distribution of initial indoor formaldehyde concentrations immediately after renovation (C a0) and the decay constant (k) were then obtained. The mean values of C a0 and k were 0.376 mg/m3 and 1.98 × 10−4 h−1, respectively. Exposure model was revised by considering the long-term variation characteristics. The inhalation health risks related to formaldehyde exposure were then estimated. The median cancer risk was 3.41 × 10−5, and the probability of exceeding the acceptable risk was 99%. The median cancer risk decreased by 40% and 60% if the start time of room occupancy was increased to 0.5 y and 1 y after renovation, respectively. k (>1 y) contributed the most to the variation in cancer risk, followed by C a0 (>1 y). Ignoring the decay of indoor formaldehyde concentrations overestimates the health risks related to exposure to formaldehyde in newly renovated residences. Our results present a more accurate method for determining human health risks related to indoor formaldehyde that can also be applied to other volatile organic compounds.
Highlights Long-term formaldehyde concentrations were collected from 42 studies in 38 cities. Initial concentration and decay constant means were 0.376 mg/m3 and 1.98 × 10−4 h−1. The exposure model was revised by considering long-term formaldehyde variations. The median cancer risk was 3.41 × 10−5 with 99% probability above the acceptable risk. Omission of the long-term decay characteristics overestimates the health risk.
Long-term indoor formaldehyde variations and health risk assessment in Chinese urban residences following renovation
Abstract Formaldehyde is a ubiquitous indoor gaseous pollutant classified as a human carcinogen. Indoor formaldehyde concentrations tend to change over time in newly renovated buildings. However, this variation is not typically considered in inhalation cancer risk assessments. In this study, long-term indoor formaldehyde concentrations in newly renovated residences in China were collected from related literature. A total of 66 data sets collected from 42 different studies in 38 cities were analyzed. An exponential model was used to describe the variation patterns of indoor concentrations. The distribution of initial indoor formaldehyde concentrations immediately after renovation (C a0) and the decay constant (k) were then obtained. The mean values of C a0 and k were 0.376 mg/m3 and 1.98 × 10−4 h−1, respectively. Exposure model was revised by considering the long-term variation characteristics. The inhalation health risks related to formaldehyde exposure were then estimated. The median cancer risk was 3.41 × 10−5, and the probability of exceeding the acceptable risk was 99%. The median cancer risk decreased by 40% and 60% if the start time of room occupancy was increased to 0.5 y and 1 y after renovation, respectively. k (>1 y) contributed the most to the variation in cancer risk, followed by C a0 (>1 y). Ignoring the decay of indoor formaldehyde concentrations overestimates the health risks related to exposure to formaldehyde in newly renovated residences. Our results present a more accurate method for determining human health risks related to indoor formaldehyde that can also be applied to other volatile organic compounds.
Highlights Long-term formaldehyde concentrations were collected from 42 studies in 38 cities. Initial concentration and decay constant means were 0.376 mg/m3 and 1.98 × 10−4 h−1. The exposure model was revised by considering long-term formaldehyde variations. The median cancer risk was 3.41 × 10−5 with 99% probability above the acceptable risk. Omission of the long-term decay characteristics overestimates the health risk.
Long-term indoor formaldehyde variations and health risk assessment in Chinese urban residences following renovation
Liang, Weihui (author)
Building and Environment ; 206
2021-09-25
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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