Improving the indoor air quality by using a surface emissions trap for exposure reduction

A prototype of a surface emissions trap, a new device for reducing emissions of volatile organic compounds and particulate matter from surfaces while allowing evaporation of moisture, was used to improve the indoor air quality of a school building with elevated air concentrations of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol. A clear improvement of the perceived air quality was noticed a few days after the trap had been attached on the PVC flooring. In parallel, decreased air concentrations of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol were found as well as a linear increase of the amounts of the same compound adsorbed on the installed trap as observed up to 13 months after installation. This study suggests that a surface emissions trap may represent a fast and efficient means of restoring the indoor air quality in a building e.g. after water damage leading to irritating and potentially harmful emissions from building material surfaces indoors.