Testing and sampling devices for monitoring volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds in indoor air

Adults spend most of their time in enclosed spaces (e.g., apartment, office and public buildings). According to research conducted by scientists, air quality indoors is much worse than the ambient air quality outdoors. Hazardous chemicals found in air indoors can adversely affect the functioning of the human body and cause many respiratory and circulatory diseases. Harmful chemical compounds (mainly volatile organic compounds and semi-volatile organic compounds) in the indoor environment are present because they are emitted from building and construction materials, and indoor equipment.One way of determining the levels of emissions of harmful chemicals is to use emission test chambers (ETCs), which can optimize analytical parameters (e.g., temperature, humidity, loading factor of the test chamber and the air-exchange rate).This article reviews the literature on the analytical methodologies that are used for different types of ETC for estimating emissions of chemicals from building and construction materials and components of indoor equipment.

► A compendium of knowledge about types of emission test chambers is elaborated.
► Emission cells (FLEC) as an alternative to emission test chambers are presented.
► Passive flux samplers are proposed as a practical, easy and cheap emission test chambers.
► Thermal desorption is described as a convenient and useful screening method for testing materials.