Carbon monoxide formation from total volatile organic compounds from the use of household spray products

Abstract

Introduction: Air pollutants emitted from household spray products used in our homes and offices have adverse effects on human health. The quantification and identification of emission sources of air pollutants forms a foundation for an effective indoor exposure control. This study presents the results of a fundamental study conducted to evaluate the kinetics and emission trends Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOCs) and Carbon Monoxide (CO) from household spray products. Materials and methods: Fortyfive (45) commonly used household spray products were selected for this study. The experiment was conducted in an isolated empty room of dimension (2.72×2.82×2.00) m3 with no known/significant indoor emission source(s). CO and TVOCs concentrations were measured with Aeroqual® 500 series monitor with CO and TVOCs head at 15 min, 1 h, 3 h, and 24 h, for all 45 samples of household spray products. Results: Spontaneous second – order conversion of TVOCs to CO was observed for most of the spray products in the indoor environment. For the insecticides samples, TVOCs initial concentrations were 7.2–73±19.76 ppm which after one hour the concentrations became 1.8 – 17±7.20 ppm. CO measured initial concentration were 0 – 4±1.08 ppm which the concentration levels reduced to 0–7±2.16 ppm. TVOCs concentration was above the permissible limit set by USEPA and CO concentration for some of the air fresheners, perfume, shoe impregnation spray and hair sprays fall short the limit of 40,081.89 and 25,562.37 µg/m3 set by United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and World Health Organization (WHO), respectively. Conclusion: As the concentration of TVOCs decreased as the concentration the concentration, CO increased following a second order kinetics. The result obtained will help in the development of safer products and a proper guide on how to use them in a way it will not cause harm to both the user of the product and the environment.

Keywords

• Household spray products; Kinetics; Trend; Carbon monoxide (CO); Total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs)