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Measurements of VOC/SVOC emission factors from burning incenses in an environmental test chamber: influence of temperature, relative humidity, and air exchange rate

Environmental Science and Pollution Research volume 23, pages 6300–6311 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of three environmental indoor parameters (i.e., temperature, relative humidity, and air exchange rate) on the emission of 13 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) during incense burning. Experiments have been carried out using an environmental test chamber. Statistical results from a classical two-level full factorial design highlight the predominant effect of ventilation on emission factors. The higher the ventilation, the higher the emission factor. Moreover, thanks to these results, an estimation of the concentration range for the compounds under study can be calculated and allows a quick look of indoor pollution induced by incense combustion. Carcinogenic substances (i.e., benzene, benzo(a)pyrene, and formaldehyde) produced from the incense combustion would be predicted in typical living indoors conditions to reach instantaneous concentration levels close to or higher than air quality exposure threshold values.

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Acknowledgments

The AMBISAFE project is labialized by competitiveness PASS cluster and was funded by a research consortium (Albhades Provence, APF arômes et parfums, Bougie & Senteur, L’Occitane en Provence, TERA Environnement, Terre d’Oc). Audrey Manoukian is grateful to the Région Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur and the Albhades Provence laboratory for the doctoral grant obtained to carry out this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, LCE UMR 7376, 13331, Marseille, France

    A. Manoukian, D. Buiron, B. Temime-Roussel, H. Wortham & E. Quivet

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  1. A. Manoukian
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  2. D. Buiron
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  3. B. Temime-Roussel
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  4. H. Wortham
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  5. E. Quivet
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Correspondence to E. Quivet.

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Responsible editor: Gerhard Lammel

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Manoukian, A., Buiron, D., Temime-Roussel, B. et al. Measurements of VOC/SVOC emission factors from burning incenses in an environmental test chamber: influence of temperature, relative humidity, and air exchange rate. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 6300–6311 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5819-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5819-2

Keywords

  • Incense
  • Combustion
  • Indoor air quality