Building materials and air quality: what companies should know

Nowadays, people spend about 90% of their time in confined spaces, whether in the workplace, in transportation, at home or in leisure spaces. For this reason, Indoor Air Quality (QAI) is a concern with increasing relevance.

There are several studies that prove the correlation between indoor air pollution and the global number of diseases in the population, with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) being well identified as the cause of several health problems, especially respiratory ones.

The increase in problems related to Indoor Air Quality is due, on the one hand, to the increase in pollutants, in the form of the most diverse products with which we have daily contact. Companies are looking for new materials aiming at greater comfort, noise reduction and energy savings, but these can, however, contain dangerous substances. On the other hand, in order to reduce energy consumption, ventilation levels in indoor spaces have decreased. Better waterproofing of buildings has been achieved, which, combined with low rates of air renewal, represents a greater risk of pollutant concentration.

But how to protect our health without increasing energy consumption and giving up comfort? One strategy to achieve this is to control the source. In other words, replace polluting materials or products, with low-emission counterparts.

Careful choice of materials must be a priority

The Portuguese industry must be alert to the ingredients used in the formulation of its products, in order to prevent certain dangerous substances from spreading through our homes. INEGI's Indoor Air Quality Laboratory collaborates with several national and European industries in order to characterize their construction materials with regard to VOC emissions, low molecular weight aldehydes and COSVs (semi-volatile organic compounds). The latter are a recent target of international law, and national industries should be aware of these changes. Our Indoor Air Quality Laboratory also carries out tests to characterize the content of these same substances in ingredients and formulations.

These include volatile carcinogenic substances (C1, C2 and C3), but also mutagenic and teratogenic, and classified as SVHC (substance of very high concern). These dangerous substances are already under tight control in countries like Germany, for example.

Another aspect to be taken into account is the incorporation of recycled materials in the manufacturing process. Dangerous substances currently banned, or restricted in quantity, may thus be present in construction materials again.

INEGI's Indoor Air Quality Laboratory keeps up with the demands of consumers and legislators, collaborating with various national and European industries in the characterization of construction materials in relation to VOC, low molecular weight aldehydes and COSVs. The Laboratory also carries out tests to characterize the content of these same substances in ingredients and formulations, such as volatile carcinogenic substances (C1, C2 and C3), but also mutagenic and teratogenic, and classified as SVHC.

The goal? To help industry and companies improve their products, making them more safe for both environment and people.

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Article by Gabriela Ventura, technical manager of INEGI’s Indoor Air Quality Laboratory