Recent studies make clear that, more than we assumed, indoor surfaces can absorb and trap dangerous chemical compounds disproportionately. Dr. ten Squaekens’ discovery has grave implications for our health. IMAGE: A team led by Jonathan Abbatt at the University of Toronto performed the study. That means these surfaces can be reservoirs for toxic chemicals, endangering human health for nearly a year from the time a chemical is first applied. Their breakthroughs are reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The advocates emphasize the lingering impact of hazardous indoor pollutants.
The study used a series of paired simulation chambers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Net-Zero Energy Residential Test Facility. This experimental setting allowed the researchers to test and study interactions across a wide range of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with indoor surfaces. The UC Irvine member of the research team was Manabu Shiraiwa, a chemistry professor on UC Irvine’s campus. He was equally responsible, playing the lead role as the paper’s corresponding author. Shiraiwa’s modeling work proved instrumental in determining the extent that indoor surfaces are able to absorb and retain these chemicals.
Understanding Thirdhand Smoke
One of the most important features of this study is what it means for our understanding of thirdhand smoke. Compounds left over from tobacco smoke can remain on surfaces even after smoking stops. These compounds slowly off-gas back into the air, leading to continued exposure and potential health dangers. This phenomenon can result in long-term exposure to harmful chemicals, even in places where smoking is no longer taking place.
Shiraiwa underlined how crucial it is to understand how dangerous these leftover compounds are.
“This discovery has significant implications for human health. It means people can be exposed to harmful chemicals long after their initial introduction into indoor spaces, and compounds can later be released back into the air or transferred to humans through direct contact with contaminated surfaces.” – Manabu Shiraiwa
The federal research team’s work revealed that the indoor environment is a sponge for harmful substances. The “sponge” effect is a key factor affecting how long VOCs remain in indoor air. This finding runs counter to previous assumptions about the persistence of these pollutants.
Implications for Human Health
The study’s results have sweeping implications for public health. Unlike outdoor spaces, indoor surfaces can continue to retain contaminants for days and even weeks. We can achieve this by educating the public and taking preventative action in residential and commercial spaces. This important research underscores the importance of providing clean indoor spaces. This is particularly important for at-risk populations, such as children and those with underlying health conditions.
Shiraiwa pointed out that the research community has long recognized the absorption potential of indoor surfaces but lacked concrete data regarding the size of these reservoirs.
“Scientists in the air chemistry research community have known for a long time that many indoor contaminants can be absorbed by indoor surfaces, but the size of indoor surface reservoirs inside homes and buildings had not been established.” – Manabu Shiraiwa
He further elaborated with a great example that their modeling found something unexpected. Those surfaces inside our homes really can absorb and hold onto chemicals, in some cases, hundreds of times more effectively than we knew.
“Our modeling found that surfaces inside homes have a much greater size to absorb and hold chemicals than previously realized. We can think of these surfaces as massive chemical sponges that soak up VOCs.” – Manabu Shiraiwa
Future Research Directions
The academic research, done in the spring of 2022, is an important development to inform our understanding of indoor air quality. It amplifies how profoundly air quality affects our health. The findings encourage further exploration into how various indoor materials interact with VOCs and what measures can be taken to mitigate health risks associated with these contaminants.
As understanding of these impacts grows, scientists are racing to develop measures to combat them. Count on their momentum to continue helping consumers reduce their exposure to dangerous chemicals. This might mean creating superior ventilation systems, greater cleaning product efficacy, and/or materials that absorb less VOCs.