VOC-concentrations in Berlin indoor environments between 1988 and 1999

To evaluate the contamination of indoor air by volatile organic compounds ( VOC) and to detect possible long-term changes of VOC-concentrations in indo or air 744 indoor air analyses were performed between November 1988 and Oct ober 1999. The measurements which comprised up to 110 VOC, were analysed st atistically. The majority of the analysed rooms were private homes, but som e public rooms as offices, schools and hospitals were also included. The me asurements were performed on request of the inhabitants or users by B. A. U . CH e. V In the rooms under study aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, alc ohols, aldehydes and terpenoic compounds were the most important components of the VOC-mixture, while glycols, ketones, siloxanes and chlorinated hydr ocarbons could not be detected in the majority of the measurements. The hig hest median levels reached formaldehyde (38 mug/m(3)), hexanal (34 mug/m(3) ), toluene (28 mug/m(3)), n-butanol (27 mug/m(3)) and alpha -pinene (13 mug /m(3)). Concerning benzene, toluene and 1, 1,1-trichlorethane significant d ecreases of indoor air concentrations were observed during the period of in vestigation. The siloxane concentrations decreased since 1997, whereas alph a- and beta -pinene, Delta -3-carene, limonene and 1,2-propylene glycol mon omethyl ether significantly increased in concentration.