Les monoterpènes : sources et implications dans la qualité de l’air intérieur | Monoterpenes : Sources and implications for the indoor air quality

English. peer reviewed

English. audience: researcher, professional

English. Terpenes are recurrent in indoor environments. Their sources, biogenic or anthropological origin, are very varied: plants, wooden building materials, household products and furnishings, paints, air fresheners, perfumed candles.However, in spite of their natural character, these compounds can have significant effects onoccupant’s health. Indeed, some monoterpenes are recognized as irritating or allergenic. Furthermore, they react with the other molecules to form potentially more harmful secondary products such as formaldehyde.Numerous studies demonstrated that reactions between monoterpenes and ozone producedairborne particulate matter as well as secondary pollutants among which formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acetone. However, few studies were realized in the indoor to demonstrate the terpenes and secondary pollutants evolution.The most frequently used technique for the monoterpenes analysis is the TD-GC-MS. Thesampling mode depends on the sample introduction system, either the sampling on sorbent tube, or the sampling in a tank.The attraction for the wooden constructions and ecological materials leads to higher indoormonoterpenes concentrations. Does this occurrence have to arouse our interest? The present article has the objective to review the knowledge relative to terpenes, and more exactly on the monoterpenes sources in indoor and their implication in its quality.