Volatile Organic Compounds Concentrations in New Apartment Buildings in Harbin, China

Indoor air quality of the new building has become a major concentration in China. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in new buildings were investigated and factors significant to their presence were discussed. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds, temperature and humidity were measured in four new apartment buildings over 6 months following installation. Formaldehyde concentrations in the new buildings were relatively low in the new buildings, which can satisfy the Indoor air quality standard of 0.10mg/m3. But the benzene and total volatile organic compound (TVOC) concentrations were extremely higher indoor, they were approximately three to four times higher than IAQ standard. Simultaneous outdoor samples were also collected to determine indoor to outdoor I/O. ratios for every compound at each location, which showing a dominant effect of indoor sources. The study revealed that the indoor concentrations of selected VOCs on occasions could be significantly high due to various sources. The data presented here can be useful in developing air quality standards for indoor air.