Source Apportionment of Personal Exposure to Carbonyl Compounds and BTEX at Homes in Beijing, China

Qingyang Liu,Meigen Zhang,Yanju Liu

doi:10.4209/aaqr.2013.01.0005

Abstract

Concentrations of carbonyl compounds (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein and acetone) and BTEX (benzene, toluene and xylenes) were monitored at 128 residential homes (255) in Xicheng district, Beijing, during the period of November–December 2009. The indoor concentrations of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, acetone, benzene, toluene and xylenes were in the ranges of 1.3–85.6 µg/m 3 , 0.7–102.0 µg/m 3 , 0.3–102.1 µg/m 3 , 0.1–25.1 µg/m 3 , 1.0–47.5 µg/m 3 , 1.3–86.0 µg/m 3 and 0.2–78.7 µg/m 3 , respectively. The concentrations of all species during the investigation period were below the Chinese guideline values. Based on the measured concentrations, a receptor model (PMF; positive matrix factorization) coupled with the source information was applied to identify the major emission sources. The results showed that four major sources were identified by the PMF method, including (1) outdoor incursion factors, (2) emissions from building materials and paint solvent, (3) emissions from particle board and plywood flooring and (4) emissions from household cleaning chemicals. Our results also reveal that the health risks due to exposure to formaldehyde and benzene for Beijing residents were greater during this period than those for people living in Guangzhou and Hangzhou, China.

Highlights

Among indoor volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the chemical families of carbonyls and BTEX are of interests (Dassonville et al, 2009; Zhang et al, 2012)
The results showed that four major sources were identified by the positive matrix factorization (PMF) method, including (1) outdoor incursion factors, (2) emissions from building materials and paint solvent, (3) emissions from particle board and plywood flooring and (4) emissions from household cleaning chemicals
The 3-factor solutions produced a factor dominated with BTEX which contained approximately 20% of ambient formaldehyde

Summary

Introduction

Among indoor volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the chemical families of carbonyls and BTEX are of interests (Dassonville et al, 2009; Zhang et al, 2012). Some studies have suggested associations between ambient carbonyls and adverse health outcomes (Sarigiannis et al, 2011). Many studies have revealed that new decoration made remarkable contribution to indoor BTEX and carbonyls (Dassonville et al, 2009; Guo et al, 2009). Marchand et al (2006) investigated the concentrations of carbonyls in 162 France homes related to the concentration of aldehyde, and found significant positive correlation between the presences of new coatings and formaldehyde concentrations. Many studies have revealed that new decoration made remarkable contribution to indoor BTEX and carbonyls (Dassonville et al, 2009; Guo et al, 2009). Marchand et al (2006) investigated the concentrations of carbonyls in 162 France homes related to the concentration of aldehyde, and found significant positive correlation between the presences of new coatings and formaldehyde concentrations. Clarisse et al (2003) mentioned the influence of new coverings of walls and ground on the aldehydes concentrations at homes in France

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Results

Conclusion