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It is well known that the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and odors from wood-based panels is harmful to human health. The VOCs emitted from decorative wood-based panels have been investigated generally, but information is limited regarding the key odor compounds that people find most irritating. In this experiment, particleboard coated with nitrocellulose lacquer was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and olfactometry. Twenty odors were identified, which arose between 5 and 25 minutes. Most odorants from nitrocellulose lacquer--coated particleboard were aromatics, esters, and alcohols, whereas those from control (unvarnished) particleboard were aromatics, aldehydes, and esters. With an increasing ratio of air exchange rate to loading factor, the total VOCs concentration and the total value of odor intensity from nitrocellulose lacquer--coated particleboard declined. However, both increased as temperature and relative humidity rose. The fluctuation of total VOCs between different days tended to fluctuate more sharply when the temperature and relative humidity rose and when the ratio of air exchange rate to loading factor dropped. To accelerate the release of VOCs and odors and reduce their effects on humans, the optimum storing conditions for particleboard with a nitrocellulose lacquer after-production were 40[degrees]C, 60 percent relative humidity, and a 1.0-[m.sup.3]*[h.sup.-1]*[m.sup.-2] ratio of air exchange rate to loading factor., The topic of indoor air pollution has been increasingly attracting attention (Yang and Zhang 2014). Recently, the odor problem has become a growing topic of complaint (Kasper et al. 2017). [...]

Surface finishes change the characteristics of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from wood-based panels. This research studied the effects of different finishes on the VOCs released from particleboard (18 mm thick). Various materials, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), melamine paper, and water-based paint, were compared with unfinished particleboard. A 1-[m.sup.3] climate chamber and gas chromatography--mass spectroscopy were used to examine the types and rates of release and the percentages of various VOCs released by decorative particleboard over 28 days. By comparing the characteristics of VOCs released from unfinished particleboard, the effects of different surface finishes were determined. The VOC substances of concern released from particleboards were analyzed by their type and concentration until they reached a state of equilibrium on day 28. Results showed that none of the surface finishes changed the variety of total VOC (TVOC) released from particleboard, but they had a prominent influence on the rate of TVOC released, especially in the early stages. Acrylic water-based paint increased the TVOC release rate from the particleboard, whereas the PVC and melamine finishes decreased the rate. Surface finishing greatly influences the concentration of various VOCs. Although the same types of VOCs were released by the various finished particleboards, they each had different release rates and different variations in their release-rate tendencies. Surface finishing can change the percentages of various VOC components, so that the amounts were different depending on the finish, and different types of VOCs were controlled better by certain types of finishes., With modern industrialization, the use of decorative wood-based panels in interior decorating has become more widespread. Wood-based panels, such as particleboard and plywood, are often used as substrates in the [...]