Volatile organic compounds emissions from, China: Characteristics and health risk assessment

Wood furniture manufacturing is a solvent-intensive industry with significant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions. Six wood furniture manufacturing enterprises in Shandong Province were selected to determine the VOCs emission characteristics of the industrial sector. The fugitive emissions from the drying workshop were not captured or vented through a controlled exhaust system, resulting in the highest total VOCs (ΣVOCs) concentration (18.06 mg/m3), while the sizing workshop had the lowest concentration. Halogenated hydrocarbons and oxygenated VOCs were the main components of the fugitive emissions. In areas with emission controls, spliced exhaust and sizing exhaust had the lowest ΣVOCs concentration, while primer exhaust and surface coating exhaust had high ΣVOCs concentrations. Aromatics contributed significantly to the ozone formation potential and secondary organic aerosol production potential in areas with fugitive and organized emissions. The main species were m-p-xylene, m-xylene, and p-diethylbenzene. A carcinogenic risk was posed by 1,2-dichloroethane in the primer and drying workshops. The UV roller coating workshop presented the highest non-carcinogenic risk, with the main contributor being 1,1,2-trichloroethane. Its hazard quotient of 714 was much higher than the critical value of 1 set by the US EPA standard. Future VOC management measures were proposed for the wood furniture manufacturing industry. The results provide extensive data support for VOC pollution control and the management of occupational health risks in the wood furniture manufacturing industry in Shandong Province.