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Indoor air quality has become a focus of people’s attention. The emission characteristics and health risks of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and the odor emitted from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) overlaid particleboard were investigated. A synthetic index-olfactory evaluation method was used to estimate the health risks of PVC, caused by VOCs and odor based on the technology of gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy/olfactometry. Olfactory analyses and instrument detection were implemented to identify the crucial odor-active compounds. The results demonstrated that the highest concentration of VOCs and highest odor intensity occurred in the initial stage. Overall, a total of 17 odor-active compounds, including aromatic hydrocarbons, ketones, esters, alcohols, and aldehydes, were identified from PVC, while aldehydes, ketones, and esters were the most harmful constituents. Pleasant, sweet, and spicy fragrances were the key odor characteristics. It was shown that covering of the surface could effectively prevent the release of VOCs and odors, and the increased thickness would raise the emission of VOCs when the change of the total odor intensities was low. Based on the evaluation, at room temperature of 23 °C ± 1 °C, it was suggested that PVC should be stored in a well-ventilated place (more than 0.5 m3m−2h−1) for at least 28 days before it is used indoors.

Unfinished, polyvinyl chloride-faced (PVC-faced), and melamine-finished particleboards were examined to determine the effects of VOCs released from these particleboards on indoor air quality. A climate chamber and GC/MS was used to analyze the changes in the concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from these particleboards over a single cycle of 28 days. The main pollutants from the unfinished particleboard were esters, aromatic hydrocarbons, and aldehydes ketones; the pollutants released from the PVC-faced and melamine-finished particleboards were esters, and aldehydes and ketones. The VOCs from the PVC-faced particleboard had the lowest impact on indoor air quality. When the released VOCs from PVC-faced particleboard reached their stable floor-level values, the air quality was grade I, which is suitable for living. When unfinished and melamine-finished particleboards were used individually indoors, the air quality was grade IV and V. After the released VOCs reached their stable floor-level values, the indoor air quality was grade I or II, which met the standards for living conditions. Under the premise of ensuring that the indoor air was not polluted, the maximum loading rates of the unfinished, PVC-faced, and melamine-finished particleboards were 2.0 m2/m3, 3.8 m2/m3, and 3.8 m2/m3, respectively.

To solve the odor emission problem of lacquer veneer particleboards, as well as to identify the key odor compounds and their sources, alkyd resin enamel-coated particleboards were studied via gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy-olfactometry. A single-factor experiment was established under various environmental conditions. The odor-causing compounds were identified, and the effects of environmental factors on the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and odor emissions were investigated. The results showed that the main odor substances released from the alkyd resin enamel-coated particleboard were aromatic compounds, aldehydes, and alkanes, which are typically low in toxicity. The total volatile organic compounds concentration and total odor intensity increased as the temperature and relative humidity increased, but decreased as the air exchange rate to loading factor ratio increased. The temperature had a greater impact on the release of VOCs from the alkyd resin enamel-coated particleboard than either the relative humidity or air exchange rate to loading factor ratio. The odor substances concentration increased with an increase in the temperature, while the relative humidity and air exchange rate to loading factor ratio had little effect.