Occurrence of benzotriazoles (BTRs) in indoor air from Albany, New York, USA, and its implications for inhalation exposure

Abstract

Despite the widespread use of benzotriazoles as corrosion inhibitors in many household goods, studies on the occurrence of these compounds in indoor air are scarce. In this study, five benzotriazole derivatives were measured in 83 indoor air samples collected from various locations in Albany, New York, USA. Benzotriazoles were found in a majority of the indoor air samples, and the concentrations of their sum in bulk (vapor plus particulate phases) indoor air ranged from below the method limit of quantification to 492 ng·m−3 (geometric mean: 5.8 ng·m−3). The highest geometric mean concentration was found in air samples collected in parking garages (155 ng·m−3), followed by barbershops (13.6), public places (11.5), auto repair shops (5.2), automobiles (4.5), homes (4.5), offices (3.7), and laboratories (2.8). Inhalation exposure to benzotriazoles was calculated on the basis of the measured geometric mean concentrations and air inhalation rate. The highest exposure dose was found for teenagers, with a geometric mean inhalation exposure dose of 79 ng·day−1. The body-weight normalized exposure dose, however, was the highest for infants, at 3.2 ng·(kg bw)−1·day−1.