Indoor Air Pollution and Its Health Effects in Newly Decorated Rooms

Objective To explore the indoor air pollution and its health effects in newly decorated rooms. Methods Indoor air sampling was conducted in rooms of 13 newly decorated apartments during the period from the 1st day to the 4th day, the 2nd month and the 6th month after the decoration. The levels of formaldehyde, benzene, o-dimthylbenzene, m-dimethylbenzene, para-dimethylbenzene in air samples were analyzed. An epidemiological investigation on the adverse response of eye and respiratory system was carried out among the family members before and after decoration. Results The levels of formaldehyde, benzene and dimethylbenzene in indoor air exceeded ther related standards more than 2.92 times, 7.4-11.3 times, 58.2-87.1 times respectively, and showed a decreasing trend with the prolongation of time after decoration. The positive rates of shedding tears and sneezing, branchitis or cough, asthma, dizziness among family members were 0%, 3.0%, 3.0%, 0% respectirely before decoration and rose to 24.2%, 7.6%, 6.1%, 7.6% respectively after decoration. Conclusion The indoor decoration resulted in the indoor air pollution by formaldehyde and benzene compounds, the contamination degree showed a positive correlation with the degree of complicated decoration and was associated with the quality of decorative materials. Indoor decoration also resulted in the increasing positive rates of adverse response of eye and respiratory system.