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Aldehydes, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), and Health

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Indoor Environmental Quality and Health Risk toward Healthier Environment for All

Abstract

A variety of organic compounds are found in the indoor air. Aldehydes and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals categorized with boiling points from 50–100 °C to 240–260 °C; therefore, they can be found indoors in the gaseous phase. Formaldehyde is a dominant aldehyde found indoors. Because of its known hazardous properties for humans, there are guidelines to prevent health risks established by the World Health Organization (WHO)-Europe. Studies have shown a positive association between high levels of formaldehyde and VOCs indoors and sick building syndrome occurrences, respiratory symptoms of which include asthma and wheezing. Most studies were conducted in residential housing or buildings, schools, and offices. One intervention study supported the effect of installing either a Heat Recovery Ventilator or an Energy Recovery Ventilator. This increased the mean ventilation rate and therefore reduced the levels of formaldehyde and VOC in the indoor air.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan

    Atsuko Araki, Rahel Mesfin Ketema, Yu Ait Bamai & Reiko Kishi

  2. Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan

    Rahel Mesfin Ketema

Authors
  1. Atsuko Araki
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  2. Rahel Mesfin Ketema
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  3. Yu Ait Bamai
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  4. Reiko Kishi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Atsuko Araki .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Hokkaido University, Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan

    Reiko Kishi

  2. Uppsala University, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden

    Dan Norbäck

  3. Hokkaido University, Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan

    Atsuko Araki

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Araki, A., Ketema, R.M., Ait Bamai, Y., Kishi, R. (2020). Aldehydes, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), and Health. In: Kishi, R., Norbäck, D., Araki, A. (eds) Indoor Environmental Quality and Health Risk toward Healthier Environment for All. Current Topics in Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-32-9182-9_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-32-9182-9_7

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