Objective 1. Management of COST project 613 (Indoor Air Pollution & Its Impact on Man) 2. Characterization of IAP sources 3. Development and evaluation of IAP methodologies, in particular for source andexposure characterization. Progress to end 1990 In the framework of COST project 613, the report "Strategy for sampling chemical substances in indoor air" (EUR 12617 EN) has been published, the summary report "Indoor pollution by formaldehyde in european countries" is in the printing procedure, whereas the summary report on "Health effects of indoor air pollution" has been completely redrafted. During 1990 six working groups have been active. The JRC research activity has been focussed in the methodological development for the characterisation of IAP sources through small test chambers, including modelling. A methodology for the assessment of organic emissions from "wet" household products has been developed and evaluated, complementing previous work on "dry" construction materials. Following this work, one publication has been issued (1) and a second one is in press (2). A follow up study of VOC in indoor air on a sample of 13 homes, performed by passive (diffusion) sampling, has shown much lower concentrations than measurements performed during 1983/1984 in the same homes. One reason may be a decrease of the emission of VOC sources due to a substitution of solvent based consumer products by water emulsions. The development of a new method for the determination of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC), based on combined supercritical fluid extraction and chromatography has been started with the installation of the instrumentation. (1) A. Colombo et al. "Chamber testing of organic emission from building and fur nishing materials", The Science of the Total Environment 91 (1990) 237-249 (2) A. Colombo et al. "Small chamber tests and headspace analysis of volatile or ganic compounds emitted from household products", Indoor Air, in press Detailed description of work foreseen in 1991 (expected results) Management of COST 613 : a seminar on the assessment of risks due to IAP is being organized jointly with the NATO-CCMS for February 1991. Two of the working groups (see above) are expected to condense their conclusions in the form of written reports as they will accomplish their tasks. Research using small test chambers on the organic vapour emissions from IAP sources and their sorption on indoor surfaces, including modelling, will continue. This work will be complemented by measuring the exposure of persons carrying out household or do-it-yourself works as soon as the walk-in chamber (Indoortron) will be available. The method for the determination of SVOC is expected to be in operation and give first results. Moreover various adsorbents will be evaluated for the sampling of more polar VOC and of very volatile organic compounds (VVOC). Short description of evolution of work in 1992 The continuation of the concerted action "Indoor Air Qualtiy and Its Impact on Man" (presently COST project 613) will be most important for this activity. Research activity will focus on the use of the walk-in exposure chamber for the evaluation of source emissions and human exposures to a wide range of organic compounds. Programme(s) JRC-ENVPROT 5C - Specific research programmes (EEC) to be implemented by the Joint Research Centre - Environmental protection -, 1988-1991 Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme Data not available Coordinator COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES EU contribution No data Address Via E. Fermi 1 21020 BARASSO Italy See on map Total cost No data
