th

Special Session on Green Building, 4 International Conference on Structural Engineering

th th th
and Construction Management 2013, Kandy, Sri Lanka, 13 , 14 & 15 December 2013

SECM/13/52

DISPERSION OF POLLUTANTS IN AN ENCLOSED ROOM: A CASE STUDY ON AIR

FRESHENER

Perera T.M. 1, Jayasinghe C. 2 and Perera S.A.S 3

1
Department of Civil Engineering University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
Telephone: +94-11-2650567-8(Ext.2115); Fax: +94-11-2651216
E-mail: [email protected]
2
Department of Civil Engineering University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
Telephone: +94-11-2650567-8(Ext.2111); Fax: +94-11-2651216
E-mail: [email protected]
3
Department of Chemical and Process Engineering University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
Telephone: +94 112 650301(Ext: 4122)
E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Since the land is scarce in urban areas, more and more compact buildings are created for residential
and commercial purposes. Compact nature of buildings, demand mechanical ventilation systems, for
which air conditioners are the main source. This creates enclosed spaces inside the buildings causing
restricted fresh air supply. In order to remove the various accumulated odors, air fresheners are used
in most of the enclosed indoor spaces. Although air fresheners are provided pleasant odor inside the
room, it may contain some chemicals which would disturb the comfort level and health of the
occupants. The research presented in this paper was aimed at investigation of dispersion patterns of
pollutants due to spraying of air freshener in the enclosed spaces. A case study conducted in a test
chamber, includes the measurement of several pollutants such as TVOC, CO, CO2and PM2.5.
Dispersion patterns of the pollutants with time and distance was studied in detail. It was found that at
some distance points and up to a certain period of time, the concentration of TVOC is much higher
than the threshold value. Also the toxicity index is more than one, which reveals that spraying of air
freshener can cause some discomfort to the occupants unless proper operational practices are adopted.

Keywords: Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), Air Freshener, Dispersion

1.0 Introduction

Air fresheners have become a basic consumer product that typically emit fragrance and used
everywhere such as offices, bathrooms, stores, houses and vehicles. It has a wide range of product
types depending on the nature of application i.e. traditional spray, continuous release, solid gel
dispenses, hanging car air fresheners and potpourri. Manufactures have given a reinforced concept
about this product with the promise of creating a clean, healthy and sweet smelling indoor
environment. However public awareness regarding this particular product is low. Because the
present regulations do not require disclosure of all the ingredients in a consumer product, or of any
ingredient in a mixture is called “fragrance” (Anne et al, 2011; Anne, 2009).This may create polluted

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indoors which in turn may cause health problems that can be either short term or long term for the
occupant (Building sand their Impact on the Environment, 2009).

According to the facts which were published in National Health Conference, September 15-17, 2008
in Baltimore, MD, the potentially hazardous chemicals such as VOC which are emitted from the air
fresheners may cause the Lung irritants, asthma attacks and migraines. Furthermore, the most
common type of VOC from air freshener - formaldehyde is a lung irritant and probable carcinogen.
Therefore air freshener is considered as a simply mask odors with chemicals (Ralph, 2008).

During the air freshener manufacturing process, Phthalates are used as emulsifier to mix the
fragrance, alcohol and water. Further it is used to enhance and maintain the odor of the air freshener
for a long period. But this chemical is considered as highly toxic and is known to cause hormonal
abnormalities, birth defects, and reproductive problems. According to the publication of National
Resource Defense Council of California (NRDC) revealed that 86% (12 out of 14 air fresheners) of
present products do not list the Phthalates as ingredient although those are advertised as “all natural
“or “unscented.” (Protect Your Family from the Hidden Hazards in Air Fresheners, 2007).

According to the NRDC study, the following are the common types of Phthalates and their effects.

Table 1: Common types of phthalates found in air freshener (Extracted from National Health
Conference, September 15-17, 2008 in Baltimore, MD)
Phthalates Effect

Di-ethyl Phthalate (DEP) Changes in hormone levels and genital

development
Di-n-butyl Phthalate (DBP) Called reproductive toxicant by National
Toxicology Program and State of CA
Causes changes in genital development
Di-isobutyl Phthalate (DIBP) Metabolites associated with changes in male
genital development
Di-methyl Phthalate (DMP) Inconclusive evidence of reproductive toxicity in
animal studies
Di-isohexyl Phthalate (DIHP) Limited testing has shown it’s probably a
developmental and reproductive toxicant

“In addition, many cleaning agents and air fresheners contain chemicals that can react with other air
contaminants to yield potentially harmful secondary products. For example, terpenes can react rapidly
with ozone in indoor air generating many secondary pollutants, including TACs (Toxic Air
Contaminants) such as formaldehyde. Furthermore, ozone–terpene reactions produce the hydroxyl
radical, which reacts rapidly with organics, leading to the formation of other potentially toxic air
pollutants” (William et al, 2004).

This present situation has got worsen due to modern building operational practice such as restricting
free ventilation by closing doors and windows in most of the time and with air conditioned
environment without proper maintenance (Perera et al, 2012).

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This research paper presents the emission from the air fresheners in an enclosed environment without
any mechanical ventilation. The results obtained from this study can be used to find a relationship
between the pollutants’ concentration with time and distance. It is possible to give some
recommendation for the consumers regarding this product in order to enhance their awareness.
Further, the findings of this study can be used to develop some operational practices to maintain the
health and safety of occupants if at all the air freshener is sprayed indoors.

2.0 Objectives

The main objective of this study is to investigate the maximum effect of the air fresheners on IAQ
with its worst dispersion characteristics. The obtained results are used to find the relationship
between pollutants’ concentration with time and distance in order to aware the building planners as
well as public.

3.0 Experimental programme

A test chamber was created inside the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa. The
dimensions and the details of openings are shown in the Figure 1.In order to create control conditions,
window openings were sealed with plywood sheets and the door was kept closed during all
measurements. Since this is a part of a large building which is more than 30 years of age, there is no
effect from any other building materials.

Figure 1: Plan view of the testing room (dimensions are in meter)

The equipment used in this study was Indoor Air Quality Monitor (IQM60 Environmental Monitor
V5.0) and Haz-Dust Particulate Air Monitor. Indoor Air Quality Monitor was used to measure the
concentrations of Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Total
Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC), Temperature and Relative Humidity. Haz- Dust Particulate
Air Monitor was used to measure the concentration of the particulate matters which are having the
diameter less than 2.5μm.

The two pieces of equipment were mounted at a height of 0.9m from the ground level. This height
has been selected considering the breathing level of a seated occupant.

Equipment was operated 1.5 hours before spraying the air freshener in order to achieve stabilized
position of the sensors built in to the equipment. The readings during the half an hour before the
spray were considered as the base line measurements. Table 2 represents the average base line

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concentrations of pollutants over a period of ten days. This is the period over which the entire
studying was conducted at various distance points such as 1m, 2m, 3m, 4m, 6m, 8m and 10 m.

Table 2: Concentration of causative agents inside the room (Before spraying the air freshener)

Name Concentration

Carbon Monoxide (CO) 0 ppm

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) 390 ppm

Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC) 0 ppm

Particulate Matter (PM2.5) 0.026 mg/m3

Temperature (0C) 30~ 31

Relative Humidity (%) 76~77

During this experiment, concentrations of pollutants were measured with the distance by moving the
instruments from 1m to 10 m with 1m interval along with the line starting from the source. As the
first test application, air freshener was sprayed on to the floor of the designated point inside the
chamber (Figure 1 – Shaded area) and the instruments were operated at 1m distance from the source
point. The measurements were continued for eight hours daily. This allowed the emissions from the
air freshener to disperse up to the ambient condition and zero in some parameters.

Test procedure was repeated at distance points 2m, 3m, 4m, 6m, 8m, and 10m and recorded the timely
variation with respect to a particular distance. One type of locally manufactured air freshener was
used in this experiment.

4.0 Results and analysis

The results obtained during the experiment, has shown different patterns of concentrations with time
and distance. Among the above results, there was a significant variation observed in concentrations of
Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC), Carbon Monoxide (CO) and insignificant variation in
concentration of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) after spraying the air freshener.

4.1 Variation of pollutant concentration with time

Variation of pollutant concentration with time is presented in Figure 2 and 3. The figures illustrate
that the rapid increase of the concentration of TVOC and CO after spraying the air freshener. It can
be seen that the concentrations of the above causative agents are higher than the permissible value of
them after spraying the 25 ml of air freshener. Indoor permissible value of the TVOC is 0.75 ppm
(OSHA-Occupational Safety and Health Administration) [8] and CO is 9 ppm (USEPA-United State

26
Environmental Protection Agency) for 8 hour exposure [9]. The above two types of causative agents
have taken more than 7 hours, to disperse their concentrations to the ambient condition (0 ppm).

Figure 2: TVOC variation with time for air freshener (25 ml)

Figure 3: CO variation with time for air freshener (25 ml)

4.2 Variation of pollutant concentration with distance

The measurements were taken along the diagonal line of the test chamber (Figure 1) which is started
from the source point. Variation of TVOC and CO concentrations with distance are presented in
Figure 4 and 5. There are twelve lines in the graphs shown in Figure 4 and 5 representing the selected
time intervals. It can be seen that the maximum concentrations of both TVOC and CO are occurred at
6m distance from the source point. It is approximately the center of the test chamber. Since the test
chamber is fully enclosed, dispersion of the pollutants is mainly due to the diffusion. Due to the
diffusion process, pollutants are transported to the lower concentrated points such as edges of the
chamber. Then these particles are hit on the walls and reflected back to the center of the room. This
may increase the concentration at the middle after spraying the air freshener.

Time

Figure 4: TVOC variation with distance for air freshener (25 ml) at various time intervals

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 Time

Figure 5: CO variation with distance for air freshener (25 ml) at various time intervals

Figure 4 and 5 present the variation of TVOC and CO concentrations with distance after half an hour
of the spraying of air freshener. There is a clear pattern of curves presented in those figures.
However the variation of TVOC and CO had shown the above regular pattern with the distance, up to
half an hour time period from the spraying of air freshener does not show any significant pattern.
This is clearly presented in the graph shown if Figure 6. This could be due to a result of reactions
between chemical contained in air freshener and other air contaminants during the initial time after
spray the air freshener (William et al, 2004).

Time

Figure 6: TVOC variation during the first 30 min after spray the air freshener (25 ml)

The above measured data was subjected to the further analysis by using the Toxicity Index which is
defined as followed (refer Eq (1)); (Edgar et al.)

Toxicity Index = (Concentration of the Casative Agent)/(Permissible Value) (1)

The Toxicity Index graphs for the TVOC and CO are represented in Figure 7and 8 respectively. From
the following figures (Figure 7 and 8), it is highly noticeable the toxic effect from the 25 ml of air
freshener for enclosed environment. Based on the Figure 7 and 8, Table 2 is presented the summary
of the results.

Figure 7: Toxicity index variation for TVOC concentration after spray the air freshener

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 Figure 8: Toxicity index variation for co concentration after spray the air freshener

It has been observed that there can be, the exposure time for toxic condition for the TVOC of more
than 3 hours for all the distance points considered in the study. This can cause significant discomfort
condition for the occupants. Since the toxicity index is more than one, it can also cause health
problems for the occupants (Mark, 2007). But for the CO, toxicity index is exceeding one at the
center of the chamber during the 20 min of short period.

Table 2: Summary of the results

Distance TVOC CO

Max Toxicity Exposure time for Max Toxicity Exposure time for
Index Toxicity Condition Index Toxicity Condition

1m 5.2 3 hr 40 min 0.4 -

2m 5.23 3 hr 38 min 0.35 -

3m 4.83 3 hr 18 min 0.44 -

4m 4.47 3 hr 44 min 0.35 -

6m 11.81 4 hr 24 min 1.13 20 min

8m 4.63 3 hr 32 min 0.4 -

10m 7.99 3 hr 16 min 0.64 -

4.4 Variation of CO2 concentration with time

During the experiment occupant density was zero inside the room instead the time of the spray. Since
it was assumed that the following CO2 increment is merely due to the air freshener spray. According
to the Figure 9, the CO2 level has slightly increased and decreased with the distance after spraying the
air freshener. However, it has not exceeded the threshold value (1000 ppm) recommended by World
Health Organisation (WHO). The increase in CO2level is in the range of 50 – 100 ppm.

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 Figure 9: CO2 variation with distance for air freshener (25 ml)

5.0 Conclusion and recommendations

It has been revealed in this study that the building operational practices can create a major impact on
indoor environment. One such practice studied in detail covered in this research paper is spraying of
air freshener.

It has been shown experimentally that the spraying of air freshener can increase the TVOC
concentration much beyond the threshold value specified in OSHA. Also it can increase the
concentration of CO as well. These pollutants can cause some health effects on the occupants with
short term and long term exposure. This study also observed the distance points where higher
concentration of TVOC accumulated inside the room. This reveals the dispersion pattern with
distance and also the time taken to come back to the permissible values.

Based on the dispersion patterns it can be studied that spraying of air freshener should be done prior
to the daily occupancy of the indoors and also safe locations can be selected to spray air freshener
considering the dispersion based on diffusion principles.

However further studies are needed to develop formal guidelines in terms of safe and hygienic
practices for the spraying of air freshener, if at all used inside the buildings.

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to gratefully acknowledge the funds allocated by University of Moratuwa to
purchase equipment and the support given by the staff of Department of Civil Engineering, University
of Moratuwa.

References

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