Abstract
Aldehydes concentrations were measured in 162 homes in the Strasbourg
area (East of France) in the context of a case/ control study pairing
asthmatic and non-asthmatic people. The surveyed people have completed
a questionnaire aiming to characterize the indoor homes and the people
life practices. Gaseous aldehyde levels were quantified by a conventional
DNHP-derivatization method followed by HPLC/UV. Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde
and hexanal were the main encountered aldehydes with mean concentrations
of 32.2 +/- 14.6, 14.3 +/- 9.7 and 8.6 +/- 8.1 mu g m(-3), respectively,
while propionaldehyde and benzaldehyde concentrations were usually
< 3 mu g m(-3). The aldehydes concentrations simultaneously measured
in both bedroom and living room were not significantly different
except for formaldehyde and were correlated between them meaning
that indoor air was quite homogenous in homes. Combination of information
collected in our questionnaires and statistical analysis was used
to investigate indoor aldehydes determinants. Even if formaldehyde
sources are theoretically well identified, they are multiple so that
it was difficult to determine the main parameters influencing its
concentrations in domestic environment. Higher hexanal concentrations
were related to new coatings such as painting, wallpapers and laminate
floorings. Hexanal concentration decreased with both coating and
furniture ages so that this compound may be considered as a tracer
of these emissions. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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