VOC characteristics and inhalation health risks in newly renovated residences in Shanghai, China

Exposure to indoor VOCs is expected to link to a variety of negative health outcome. The popularity of decorations and refurbishment in homes in China has given rise to indoor elevated VOC levels, potentially posing health threats to residents. In this study, concentrations of 101 VOC compounds and associated health risks were investigated in newly renovated homes in Shanghai. The potential excess inhalation health risks from home exposure of 17 health-related VOCs were estimated by the Inhalation Unit Risk (IUR) and Reference Concentration (RfC) proposed by US EPA. Monte Carlo simulation and sensitivity analysis were used to assess the uncertainty associated with the estimates of health risks. The dominant groups by mass concentration were oxygenated VOCs (o-VOCs), aromatics, alkanes and halogenated VOCs (x-VOCs) .12 VOCs with IARC's confirmed or probable carcinogens ratings were detected with a > 60% detection frequency in the total samples. The mean concentrations of BTEX (benzene, toluene, m/p-xylene, o-xylene, ethylbenzene) were 2.32 μg/m3, 200.13 μg/m3, 39.56 μg/m3, 32.59 μg/m3 and 26.33 μg/m3 respectively, generally higher than those in older homes reported in previous studies except benzene. The mean concentration of methylene chloride (47.43 μg/m3) and 1,2-dichloroethane (33.83 μg/m3) were noticeably higher than the levels reported in previous studies in Hong Kong, Japan and Canada. Whereas the mean concentration of 1,4-dichlorobenzene (5.53 μg/m3) were similar to the results of Canadian national survey but lower than those in Japan. The concentrations of 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, and methylene chloride, ethylbenzene presented a mean cancer risk at 7.39 × 10− 6, 1.95 × 10− 6, 1.62 × 10− 6, 1.04 × 10− 6 respectively, above the US EPA proposed acceptable risk level of 1 × 10− 6. Sensitivity analyses indicated that the VOC exposure concentration have a greater impact than the IUR values on the risk assessment. This study highlights the characteristics of VOCs in recently renovated homes and has implications for the adverse health effects that result from exposure to chlorinated hydrocarbons in indoor air.