Indoor air quality problems resulting from emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have become an issue of increasing concern. Factors known to affect VOC levels in indoor air include: ventilation rate, occupant activities, and emissions from building and furnishing materials. In this research, VOC emissions from particleboard and medium density fiberboard (MDF) were measured in small stainless steel chambers (53 L) during a 4-day period. A protocol was developed to obtain new and representative samples and to minimize contamination of the samples during collection, preparation, and shipment to the laboratory. Samples were collected from 53 of the 61 U.S. mills that produce particleboard and MDF Each mill identified the predominant tree species used to manufacture the panels. The laboratory tests were conducted at 45 percent relative humidity and used a gas chromatograph and a mass selective detector to identify and quantify VOC compounds. The predominant compounds identified in emissions from the particleboard and MDF samples were terpenes and aldehydes. Small straight-chain alcohols and ketones were also found. This study describes the terpene emission data. Quantified terpenes included alpha- and beta-pinene, camphene, 3-carene, p-cymene, limonene, and borneol. Terpene emissions accounted for between 7 and 21 percent of the total VOC emissions, calculated as alpha-pinene. The highest terpene emissions were observed from particleboard samples manufactured from pines other than southern pine. For particleboard, terpene emissions were largely related to the extractive content of the wood species. The terpenes were almost completely absent in emissions from MDF samples, which indicates that differences in the manufacturing of MDF compared with the manufacturing of particleboard may have considerably affected emissions. After 4 days, the terpene emissions from all particleboard samples decreased to between 20 and 70 percent of their initial values.

• VOC
• VOC: measurement and identification
• wood panel : MDF

1. Aldehyde emissions from particleboard and medium density fiberboard products
2. Volatile organic chemical emissions from composite wood products: a review  

1. Aldehyde emissions from particleboard and medium density fiberboard products
2. Characterization of particulate emissions from occupant activities in offices