Predicting VOC and SVOC Concentrations in Complex Indoor Environments

In this chapter, recent developments in the prediction of VOC and SVOC concentrations in complex indoor environment are reviewed. The fate and transport of VOCs and SVOCs in indoor settings is more complicated than in chambers, and the presence of occupants can greatly affect indoor air quality. First, this chapter addresses multiple VOC emission/sorption of building materials in different indoor settings. Then, VOC emissions from occupants due to the use of personal care products in university classroom are introduced. Following that, the indoor chemistry of VOCs related to ozone/squalene reactions in real residence is given. Aside from VOCs, it is also of concern to predict concentrations and fate of indoor SVOCs to further assess human exposure to these ubiquitous chemicals and their potential health effects. Based on the source emission characteristics of SVOCs, emission models are described as well as critical differences between modeling VOCs and SVOCs. Due to the substantial partitioning of SVOCs among the gas, particle, dust, and surface, partitioning models and correlations for estimating partition coefficients are reviewed. Lastly, the dynamics of SVOCs in different phases are described using fugacity-based and mass-transfer-based models.