Ultrafine particle emission from floor cleaning products

The new particle formation due to the use of cleaning products containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor environments is well documented in the scientific literature. Indeed, the physical-chemical process occurring in particle nucleation due to VOC-ozone reactions was deepened as well as the effect of the main influencing parameters (ie, temperature, ozone). Nonetheless, proper quantification of the emission under actual meteo-climatic conditions and ozone concentrations is not available. To this end, in the present paper the emission factors of newly generated ultrafine particles due to the use of different floor cleaning products under actual temperature and relative humidity conditions and ozone concentrations typical of the summer periods were evaluated. Tests in a chamber and in an actual indoor environment were performed measuring continuously particle number concentrations and size distributions during cleaning activities. The tests revealed that a significant particle emission in the nucleation mode was present for half of the products under investigation with emission factors up to 1.1 x 10(11)part./m(2)(8.8 x 10(10)part./mL(product)), then leading to an overall particle emission comparable to other well-known indoor sources when cleaning wide surfaces.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the emission factors of newly generated ultrafine particles due to the use of different floor cleaning products under actual temperature and relative humidity conditions, as well as ozone concentrations typical of the summer periods. Results showed that significant particle emissions in the nucleation mode were present for half of the products, with emission factors comparable to other well-known indoor sources when cleaning wide surfaces.