Small Scale Investigations on the Diffusion of Volatile Organic Compounds into Indoor Materials - Screening Experiments.

An experimental set-up has been implemented where indoor materials are used as a "membrane" separating two air compartments. Both compartments are constantly flushed with air, one air stream containing a mixture of 20 VOCs, and concentrations in both compartments are measured after 1 hour. 12 materials usually covering extensive surfaces indoors were consecutively exposed to the vapour mixture at concentration levels typically found in indoor environments. 7 of these materials exhibited a permeability high enough that VOCs could be discovered on the other side, among them a gypsum board. Diffusion of VOCs into and through indoor materials has therefore been confirmed experimentally.JRC.(EI)-Environment Institut