TD-GC-FID based approach for monitoring indoor borne styrene and optimization of irradiation conditions for radiopolymerization in consolidated artifacts

Abstract

Styrene induces various adverse health impacts. Due to its wide applications, the quantification of personal exposure level is of great importance, especially in places that attract a large number of people daily, like museums. The aim of this study was to develop a TD-GC-FID based approach to assay the level of residual indoor borne styrene from artifacts consolidated through radio-polymerization. Optimization of the irradiation conditions and the minimum absorbed dose for total radio-polymerization were also investigated through the proposed methodology. Styrene’s assay was performed using a thermal desorption instrument coupled to a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector (TD-GC-FID). Specific TD protocols were optimized for both declared objectives. Thermogravimetry/differential scanning calorimetry (TG/DSC) was used for optimization of the TD operational parameters. It was demonstrated that an adsorbed dose of 30 kGy ensures an almost complete radio-polymerization process. Less than 1.746 ppm of styrene is delivered from artifacts and may be inhaled by a person situated in its close proximity, a level placed within the accepted limits imposed by OSHA regulations. It was demonstrated that the TD-GC-FID approach might be useful to assess the occupational exposure to gaseous residual indoor borne styrene from museums exhibiting consolidated artifacts.