TOXIC products: Humans are the greatest pollutants of office air, reveals surprising study
02/12/2021 / By Virgilio Marin
Researchers from Purdue University found that humans are the most significant pollutants of indoor air. In a study presented at the American Association for Aerosol Research Conference in Oregon, the researchers revealed that humans are the dominant sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in an office environment.
VOCs are a large group of chemicals that strongly influence the composition and chemistry of indoor air. It is found in many everyday consumer products, such as paints and lacquers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, and copiers and printers. VOC emissions associated with humans include exhaled breath, personal care products and clothing.
Humans dominant sources of VOCs
To investigate the role of humans in indoor air pollution, the researchers put up a complex sensor system in the Living Labs office spaces at Purdue’s Ray W. Herrick Laboratories. The sensor system included temperature sensors rigged to desk chairs and an instrument called a proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Both devices acted like a “highly sophisticated nose†capable of establishing the presence of VOCs.
https://www.environ.news/2021-02-12-humans-are-greatest-pollutants-of-office-air.html
