An investigation of air pollution of the car compartments by organic compounds in the city of Guangzhou

Objective This study was designed to find out the status of air pollution in the car compartments used for different periods of time by organic compounds tO provide data for the formulation of corresponding countermeasures for the prevention and control of the pollution．Methods 151 CarS used for different periods of time were selected and the concentrations of formaldehyde，benzene，toluene，dimethylbenzene and TVOC were detected．And at the same time the drivers were examined for side effects．Results It was found that 636％of the Cars detected had different extents of air pollution in their compartments．The concentrations of benzene series compounds and TVOC were highest within half an year'S use，decreasing gradually later on．The average concentrations of toluene and dimethylbenzene substantially exceeded the standards，being 12.9-fold and 8.3-fold higher respectively than the maximum allowed concentrations stated in the "The Standards of Indoor air Quaulity”observed in China，with the extent of the concentrations of benzene and TVOC exceeding the standards relatively not SO serious．The concentration of formaldehyde was highest with a year'S use with a mean value of 0.238 mg/m3.and it was still significantly higher than that in the control after 2 year'S use(P<0.05)．The shorter the period of time a car was used，the higher the incidences of skin and upper respiratory tract irritation．The incidence of eye irritation was highest within a year'S use，and it was still significantly higher than that in the control group after 2 year'S use．Conclusion Car decoration may give rise to serious air pollution in the car compartment，causing grave harm to health of drivers．