As people spend most of their time indoors, managing indoor air quality (IAQ) has become critical. However, current standard test methods for paints using undiluted solutions do not reflect actual construction practices where thinners are added. This study aims to investigate the effects of dilution ratios on TVOC and formaldehyde (HCHO) emissions. Ten types of paints were tested using a small chamber method under undiluted (Org.) and diluted (Dil. 1, Dil. 2) conditions based on manufacturers’ specifications. The results showed that HCHO emissions were not significantly affected by dilution. However, TVOC emission patterns were categorized into four groups. Notably, some oil-based paints showed an initial suppression followed by a reversal phenomenon where emissions exceeded the original solution after three days. These findings suggest that the current test standards may underestimate the actual risk, highlighting the need to revise the regulations to reflect real-use dilution conditions.

Recently, there has been growing interest in harmful substances released from household items such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and this has increased people’s environmental awareness. In this study, adhesives and manicures were used as samples of indoor household goods and formaldehyde emission and tested over time under temperature conditions of 15oC, 25oC, 35oC, and 45oC. The small chamber method as the indoor air quality process test method was employed and used to evaluate the concentration of formaldehyde emissions. As a result, formaldehyde emissions gradually decreased over time in both tests using adhesives and manicures. The cumulative emission showed a logarithmic function over time, and the formaldehyde can be released for longer periods of time at lower temperature conditions. The logarithmic value and response time showed linear relationships, and it can be inferred that the formaldehyde was released from the sample through the first order reaction. Furthermore, the relationship between temperature and velocity constants which was determined using the Arenius linear equation showed that the reaction rate of formaldehyde can be estimated by a temperature change.

Curing behavior and structural property of an inorganic compound added urea-formaldehyde(UF) and urea-melamine-formaldehyde(UMF) were studied. In addition, tensile strength and formaldehyde emission of plywoods made of those resin binders were studied. Curing temperature and structure were not changed, but tensile strengths of plywoods manufactured both with a UF resin and a UMF resin were decreased slightly as increased amount of inorganic compound. Formaldehyde emissions from plywoods were reduced as increased amount of inorganic compound. Wheat flour as an extender was helped to reduce of formaldehyde emission. From the result of this study it might be estimated that using appropriate amount of inorganic compound and proper resin system can be strengthened bond strength and reduced formaldehyde emission.

Indoor air quality is the dominant contributor to total personal exposure because most people spend a majority of their time indoors. Especially when indoor environments have sources of contaminants, exposure to indoor air can potentially pose a greater threat than exposure to ambient air. In this study, estimations of volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde emission rate in indoor environments of new apartments were carried out using mass balance model in indoor environment, because indoor air quality can be affected by source generation, outdoor air level, ventilation, decay by reaction, temperature, humidity, mixing condition and so on. Considering the estimated emission rate of volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde, it is suggested that new apartment should be designed and constructed in the aspect of using construction materials to emit low hazardous air pollutants.