PANDORA database: A compilation of indoor air pollutant emissions

Modeling indoor air quality (IAQ) in real buildings still remains difficult because of the limited data regarding the pollutant outdoor concentrations and indoor sources. The characterization of indoor sources is currently problematic, as most of studies have focused solely on measuring indoor concentration levels instead of determining the source emission rates that are required to model the indoor concentration changes with time. The present work aims at compiling the available data regarding the emission rates of both gaseous and particulate pollutants in a systematic way into a unique database called PANDORA (a comPilAtioN of inDOor aiR pollutAnt emissions) to provide useful information for IAQ modelers. In addition to the presentation of PANDORA, the elaboration of a target volatile organic compounds (VOC) list based on the emission rates implemented in the database is also described. Results show that the obtained target VOC list is similar to those based on actual indoor VOC concentration measurements, demonstrating that PANDORA alone can be used to produce such a list and that, considering the data integrated in the database, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and benzene are the three VOC that should be carefully accounted for in IAQ analysis.