Environmental test chamber elucidation of ozone-initiated secondary pollutant emissions from painted wooden panels in buildings

Indoor ozone readily reacts with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and produces formaldehyde as a secondary pollutant. In this study, small-scale environmental chamber experiments are performed using a painted hardwood panel to evaluate the production of VOCs and formaldehyde given different ozone concentrations and reaction times. The results reveal that of the various VOCs emitted by the panel, limonene reacts most readily with ozone. The formaldehyde concentration within the chamber is found to increase by 215.8% given an ozone concentration of 200 ppb and a reaction time of 3.0 h. Consequently, such conditions must be avoided in indoor environments in order to safeguard human health.

► Experiments to evaluate production of VOCs and formaldehyde from building materials.
► Different ozone concentrations and reaction times were given.
► 215.8% increase of formaldehyde concentration occurs at 200 ppb and 3.0 h.