Liquid crystal display screens as a source for indoor volatile organic compounds

Significance Liquid crystal displays (LCDs), ubiquitously used indoors in smartphones, computer monitors, laptops, and televisions, have become an essential aspect of modern life. We find LCD screens can emit significant levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), an important class of indoor air constituents with known adverse health effects. These screen-emitted VOCs are likely derived from the “building block chemicals” used in the manufacturing of liquid crystals. The results indicate that LCD screens are a previously unrecognized source for indoor VOCs, highlighting the need to better understand the environmental fate and toxicological properties associated with the air constituents emitted from LCD screens.