Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Indoor Environments: A Review and Analysis of Measured Concentrations in Europe

Račić, Nikolina; Terzić, Ivana; Karlović, Nina; Bošnjaković, Anja; Terzić, Teo; Jakovljević, Ivana; Pehnec, Gordana; Horvat, Tajana; Gajski, Goran; Gerić, Marko; Vitko, Sandra; Šunić, Iva; Forsmann, Michael; Avino, Pasquale; Banić, Ivana; Lipej, Marcel; Malev, Olga; Žegura, Bojana; Switters, Jon; Mureddu, Francesco; Lovrić, Mario (2025) Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Indoor Environments: A Review and Analysis of Measured Concentrations in Europe. Indoor Air, 2025 (1). ISSN 0905-6947

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Abstract

Indoor air quality is a significant aspect of public health, yet it remains less studied than outdoor air pollution. Understudied indoor pollutants include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This review focuses on these two groups of compounds known for their health effects, including respiratory issues, neurological disorders, and carcinogenicity. We systematically compiled and analyzed data from studies reporting measured concentrations of VOCs and PAHs in European indoor environments—homes, schools, and offices—published in the past two decades. Concentration levels vary substantially across studies, influenced by regional differences, climate, building type, ventilation systems, and indoor activities. Identified sources include tobacco smoke, cooking, heating (e.g., biomass burning), and off-gassing from construction and furnishing materials. Our analysis reveals clear geographic patterns: lower concentrations of VOCs and PAHs are consistently reported in Northern and Western European countries, likely due to stricter air quality regulations, cleaner outdoor air, greater use of electric heating, and more advanced ventilation systems. Conversely, higher concentrations are more commonly observed in Southern and Eastern Europe, where biomass heating and poorer ventilation remain more prevalent. Seasonal variation also has a significant role, with higher indoor levels typically measured during colder months due to increased heating and reduced air exchange. This highlights the need for improved indoor air quality management practices and regulatory standards to minimize the health risks associated with VOCs and PAHs. This review of 46 scientific publications is aimed at informing future studies and guiding future field measurements and risk assessments in epidemiological studies.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	health risks; indoor air quality; PAHs; public health; VOCs
Subjects:	NATURAL SCIENCES > Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences > Environmental Science
Divisions:	Division of Materials Chemistry
Projects:	Project title Project leader Project code Project type Istraživačko-edukacijski centar za zdravstvenu i medicinsku ekologiju i zaštitu od zračenja – Rekonstrukcija i dogradnja Instituta za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada u Zagrebu- UNSPECIFIED KK.01.1.1.02.0007 EK Poboljšanje kvalitete zraka u zatvorenim prostorima utemeljeno na dokazima UNSPECIFIED 101057497 EK Onečišćenje zraka i biomarkeri učinka u ljudi-HUMNap Goran Gajski IP-2020-02-1192 HRZZ Procjena učinkovitosti i toksičnosti biološki aktivnih tvari Nikolina Maček Hrvat EU 533-03-23-0006 EU
Depositing User:	Ema Buhin Šaler
Date Deposited:	26 Mar 2026 13:46
URI:	http://fulir.irb.hr/id/eprint/11507
DOI:	10.1155/ina/5945455

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