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Indoor air pollution requires the development of various approaches to reduce the concentration of VOCs. Beyond the optimization of ventilation and the reduction of pollutant sources, building materials with sorptive properties are currently examined as possible VOC remediation processes. The potentialities and the effectiveness of sorptive building materials still require detailed and reliable assessments. Thus, the objective of this paper relies in the development of a methodology to determine VOC partitioning coefficients on two sorptive building materials, in comparison with a non-sorptive one, using two contrasted model VOCs, namely toluene and formaldehyde, under different environmental indoor conditions. This approach aims at comparing the different materials and estimating their lifetimes regarding VOC uptake under realistic indoor conditions. After exposing the experimental methodology, uptakes of toluene and formaldehyde are investigated on the three selected gypsum boards. The determination of respective partitioning coefficients enlightens the contrasted behaviours of boards depending on (i) the presence or absence of sorptive agent in their formulation, (ii) the nature of the sorptive agent used, (iii) the structure of the model VOC, (iv) the paper layer on board and (v) the relative humidity. Based on obtained experimental results, the lifetimes of boards are evaluated for each VOC. Results evidence that improvements still have to be achieved to enhance the significance of sorptive gypsum board on indoor air quality. Nevertheless, reliable methodologies are now available to assess the behavior of these materials in indoor environment and to help their effective optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indoor air quality was characterized in 10 recently built energy-efficient French schools during two periods of 4.5 days. Carbon dioxide time-resolved measurements during occupancy clearly highlight the key role of the ventilation rate (scheduled or occupancy indexed), especially in this type of building, which was tightly sealed and equipped with a dual-flow ventilation system to provide air refreshment. Volatile organic compounds ( VOCs) and inorganic gases (ozone and NO2) were measured indoors and outdoors by passive techniques during the occupied and the unoccupied periods. Over 150 VOC species were identified. Among them, 27 species were selected for quantification, based on their occurrence. High concentrations were found for acetone, 2-butanone, formaldehyde, toluene, and hexaldehyde. However, these concentrations are lower than those previously observed in conventional school buildings. The indoor/outdoor and unoccupied/occupied ratios are informative regarding emission sources. Except for benzene, ozone, and NO2, all the pollutants in these buildings have an indoor source. Occupancy is associated with increased levels of acetone, 2-butanone, pentanal, butyl acetate, and alkanes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]