Indoor air exposure to aldehydes and ketones in rooms with new and old furniture of a new office building

Abstract

The aim of this article was to evaluate and compare the levels of aldehydes and ketones in indoor air of a new office building in rooms with new and old furniture. The sampling method involved both passive cartridges and silica gel DNPH-coated tubes. Aldehydes and ketones levels were quantified using a DNPH-derivatisation method followed by liquid chromatography coupled to UV detection for 14 aldehydes and ketones. The results obtain showed that both active and passive sampling methods can be used for indoor air aldehydes and ketones assessment depending on what you intend to achieve: long-term average or short-term monitoring. Results revealed that higher concentrations of aldehydes and ketones were found in rooms with new furniture compared to rooms with relative old furniture, making new furniture a possible source of aldehydes and ketones.