Characterization of indoor and outdoor air associated with residences using woodstoves: A pilot study

Abstract

Abstract Particulate, semivolatile organic compound (SVOC), volatile organic compound (VOC), and aldehyde samples were simultaneously collected during two nighttime 12-hour sampling periods at three Raleigh, NC, residences with operating woodstoves during February 1985. Particulate and SVOC samples were also collected from the woodstoves by using the Woodstove Dilution Sampling System. Extensive inorganic and organic analyses were conducted. Mutagenic activity on the particle samples was determined by using the forward mutation assay to 8-azaguanine resistance in Salmonella typhimurium . CO and air exchange rates were measured in each residence. Indoor fine particle mass was significantly lower than the corresponding outdoor fine particle mass in the three homes monitored. Vapor-phase extractable organic mass was approximately six times the corresponding particle-bound extractable organic mass, suggesting the need for additional research in the collection and characterization of indoor air vapor phase organic components. VOC distribution was uniform from outdoors to indoors and did not change with increased outdoor woodstove emissions. Increased napthalene concentrations were observed at one residence identified as having a leaking woodstove. Aldehyde concentrations indoors were higher than the corresponding outdoor samples. The distribution of indoor aldehydes differed from that of outdoor aldehydes which suggest that the building materials, furnishings, and individual homeowner activities impact more significantly on the indoor concentrations than woodsmoke or automotive emissions.