Indoor airborne VOCs from water-based coatings: transfer dynamics and health implications

Abstract

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from indoor surface coatings can significantly impact indoor air quality and health. This study compared emissions from water-based polyurethane (PUR) and acrylate–polyurethane (ACR–PUR) coatings, identifying 94 VOCs across 16 chemical classes. Time-resolved concentrations were analysed via Principal Component Analysis (PCA), which revealed distinct temporal emission patterns and chemically coherent clusters. Aromatic hydrocarbons, alcohols, esters, and isocyanates dominated the emission profiles, with ACR–PUR releasing markedly higher concentrations of symptom-relevant compounds. Acute exposure was linked to toluene, styrene, phenol, and methyl butyl ketone (MBK), which decreased sharply within 60 days, while compounds such as 1,3-dioxolane, isopropylbenzene, and ethenyl acetate exhibited persistent emissions, suggesting increased chronic risk. Although total VOC levels remained below the German UBA “excellent” threshold (<200 µg/m3), neurotoxic and carcinogenic compounds remained detectable. The combination of PCA-based temporal insights with toxicological profiling and emission transfer dynamics offers a refined framework for indoor air risk assessment. These results underscore the need to complement total VOC indices with symptom-oriented, time-resolved screening protocols to better evaluate SBS risk in indoor environments using water-based coatings.