Minimizing indoor odors from products

Regarding negative perceptions in indoor environments perceived odors are often mentio-ned as indicating factors. At TNO (Organisation for Applied Scientific Research in The Netherlands) a combination of methods is developed and used for the characterisation and quantification of indoor odor problems. The methods are used as tools in research aiming at minimisation of odor emissions from consumer products with indoor applications. In this paper the main principles of the methods are described. The most important part of the paper covers examples of the development of "low-odor products" using TNO's odor-expertise (that is: comparing different product locs with regard to odor emission and looking for opportunities to change the product and/or its production process to reach low odor products). In cooperation with producers of consumer-electronics TNO works on the development of printed circuit board with low odor emission. Other products under investigation are certain types of wall paper, upholstery, decorative paints, furniture, etc.