Efficiency and performance tests of the sorptive building materials that reduce indoor formaldehyde concentrations

The adsorption of volatile organic compounds by building materials reduces the pollutant concentrations in indoor air. We collected three interior building materials with adsorption potentials—latex paint, micro-carbonized plywood, and moisture-buffering siding—used the sorptive building materials test (SBMT) to determine how much they reduced indoor formaldehyde (HCHO) concentrations, and then assessed the consequent reduction in human cancer risk from HCHO inhalation. Adsorption of HCHO by building materials significantly improved the effective ventilation efficiency. For example, the equivalent ventilation rate for Celite siding—used for humidity control—was 1.44 m3/(m2·h) at 25°C, 50% relative humidity (RH); the loading factor (L) was 0.4 m2/m3, and the HCHO concentration was 0.2 ppm; this effect is equivalent to a higher ventilation rate of approximately 0.6 air changes per hour in a typical Taiwanese dwelling. There was also a substantial reduction of risk in Case MCP-2 (Cin,te: 245 μg/m3, 30°C, 50% RH): males: down 5.73 × 10−4; females: down 4.84 × 10−4). The selection of adsorptive building materials for interior surfaces, therefore, significantly reduces human inhalation of HCHO. Our findings should encourage developing and using innovative building materials that help improve indoor air quality and thus provide building occupants with healthier working and living environments.

建筑材料对挥发性有机化合物的吸附作用可降低室内空气中的污染物浓度。我们收集了三种具备吸附潜力的室内建筑材料——乳胶漆、微碳化胶合板与调湿外墙挂板，采用吸附性建筑材料测试法（Sorptive Building Materials Test, SBMT）测定其对室内甲醛（Formaldehyde, HCHO）浓度的降低幅度，并评估了由此带来的甲醛吸入致癌风险降低程度。建筑材料对甲醛的吸附可显著提升有效通风效率。例如，用于调湿的Celite外墙挂板，在25℃、相对湿度（Relative Humidity, RH）50%的条件下，等效通风速率可达1.44 m³/(m²·h)；其负载因子（Loading Factor, L）为0.4 m²/m³，甲醛浓度为0.2 ppm，该效果相当于典型台湾住宅中约0.6次/小时的更高换气次数。在MCP-2案例中（Cin,te：245 μg/m³，温度30℃、相对湿度50%），致癌风险同样出现大幅降低：男性风险下降5.73×10⁻⁴，女性风险下降4.84×10⁻⁴。因此，选用吸附性建筑材料作为室内饰面材料，可显著降低人体吸入的甲醛暴露量。本研究结果将助力开发与应用可改善室内空气质量的创新型建筑材料，从而为建筑使用者提供更健康的工作与居住环境。