Release of primary compounds and reaction products from oriented strand board (OSB)

Wood chips, strands and oriented strand boards (OSBs) were tested for release of VOCs in 1 m³ test chambers. The dominant compounds monitored in the chamber air were terpenes and aliphatic aldehydes. The chamber concentrations of the compounds were strongly dependent on the processing parameters. It was shown that OSBs are major sources of these air contaminants. This was demonstrated by measuring indoor air pollutants in newly manufactured houses.