Assessment of Carbonyl Compound Levels in Indoor Environments of Residential Buildings in Mexico City: Case Study on the Effects on Health and Quality of Life During Remote Work

This study aimed to determine carbonyl compound concentrations and assess their potential health risk in indoor air at three homes in different areas of the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) during the COVID-19 lockdown. Sampling was conducted from March to April 2021, during the home office confinement period. Average concentrations of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, acetone, propionaldehyde, and butyraldehyde in living rooms ranged from 84.15 to 74.93 μg m−3, 66.49 to 50.20 μg m−3, 60.01 to 41.35 μg m−3, 74.58 to 63.02 μg m−3, 10.90 to 6.21 μg m−3, and 12.45 to 9.91 μg m−3, respectively. In bedrooms, concentrations ranged from 84.76 to 59.70 μg m−3, 50.12 to 51.73 μg m−3, 59.74 to 37.25 μg m−3, 76.62 to 59.72 μg m−3, 14.45 to 8.40 μg m−3, and 10.72 to 8.82 μg m−3, respectively. All measured carbonyls had significant indoor concentrations, exceeding those reported in other studies worldwide. From the statistical analysis, it was found that there were significant differences in carbonyl levels between the studied homes. This suggests diverse and prevalent sources in these environments. E-cigarette vapors clearly increased acrolein levels, and the use of personal care and household products (PCHPs) also contributed to higher carbonyl concentrations indoors. The lifetime cancer risk coefficient (LTCR) and hazard quotient (HQ) values for formaldehyde and acetaldehyde exceeded WHO and US EPA recommendations, indicating increased risks of both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects.