Many unique cases of indoor air quality problems have been resolved as a result of analyzing the indoor air for volatile organic compounds.  These compounds can easily emanate from many different sources including building materials, furnishings, mold, cleaning products and other occupant activities. For example, the use of office equipment such as photocopiers, laser printers and computers can also increase the level of indoor air contamination.  VOCs can also be transported indoors through the HVAC systems, or by infiltration from the underground soil.  Exposure to VOCs can lead to many adverse health effects such as headache, eye and respiratory tract irritation, nausea, damage to liver, kidney, and central nervous system.

A number of guidelines have been established by various governmental organizations and agencies to help identify the risks. CASSEN offers a number of analytical packages using sophisticated instrumentation to achieve the detection of these VOCs at ultra low levels using either active (pumped) or passive (diffusive) sampling.  Some of the common analytical packages in indoor air are shown below:

Monitoring of formaldehyde is necessary as it can be emitted from building materials and furnishings such as carpets, particleboard, furniture, fabrics, and urea formaldehyde foam insulation, etc. Other consumer products such as cleaning products, adhesives, latex paints, wall paper, cardboard and paper products may also release small amount of formaldehyde. It is also known that tobacco smoke, and emissions from wood-burning appliances, such as wood stoves and fireplaces are sources of formadehyde.

Formaldehyde due to its low molecular weight and reactivity should be analyzed using an in-situ derivatization method such as 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH)-coated media. CASSEN provides analysis of formaldehyde and other aldehydes using both active and passive samplers. Omer service Please call and discuss your analytical needs with our customer service representatives.