A Pilot Study to Measure Indoor Concentrations and Emission Rates of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Abstract

Sampling and analytical methods for gas- and particulate-phase polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in indoor air were evaluated in a controlled field study. Using 12-h, 25-m3 samples, gas-phase PAH were collected on XAD-4 resin and analyzed by GC-MS, and particulate-phase PAH were collected in filters and analyzed for by HPLC with fluorescence detection. Tests were conducted in homes and office buildings without active combustion sources and with gas stoves, wood stoves and cigarette smoking as controlled sources. Indoor concentrations, outdoor concentrations and air-exchange rates were simultaneously measured. The precisions of the concentrations were evaluated using collocated sample pairs collected indoors and outdoors. Net emission rates were calculated for the gas-phase PAH. Net emissions of these compounds were measured in buildings without active combustion sources. Environmental tobacco smoke was identified as a significant source of both gas- and particulate-phase PAH.