Volatile Organic Compounds in the Indoor Air of Warsaw Office Buildings

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in office buildings. Five large office buildings in different areas of Warsaw were selected for the investigation. The identification and the determination of VOCs in the working environment were carried out twice during the year - in the spring-summer time and in the autumn-winter time in 50 offices. The most abundant compounds found were aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. The carcinogenic compounds, benzene and formaldehyde were among the VOCs found in the offices.

Because of the absence of health based indoor air quality standards for the office working environment in Poland and in the world, the exposure assessment for 50 workers employed in 5 office buildings was carried out with reference to ambient air quality standards and standards established for rooms in public utility buildings under Polish law. Notice was also taken of the recommended standard for total VOCs proposed by Seifert and Mølhave.

The analysis of the results of the exposure assessment of VOCs in offices in the buildings investigated shows what these compounds occur in at levels which could contribute to the “sick building syndrome” (SBS), particularly in those buildings that were not air-conditioned.