ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the relation between the total concentration of volatile organic compounds in the non-industrial environment and the irritation symptoms experienced in the eye, nose, and throat. Irritating volatile organic compounds may therefore be one of several causes for the irritating symptoms included in the Sick Building. Irritation in eye, nose, and throat, therefore, may occur in indoor air containing these compounds insufficient high concentrations. Air pollution indoor may originate from the outdoor environment, which is the main source for inorganic air pollutants. The volatile organic compounds are generally found in much higher concentrations indoor than outdoor. Based on published measurements of total concentrations of volatile organic compounds in the non-industrial indoor environment, it is argued that total concentrations below 0.16 mg/m3 may be expected to cause no mucous membrane irritation while total concentration above 5 mg/m3 are found to do so in a controlled exposure experiment.
