Actions for Cost-effective monitoring of mixtures of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in residences

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Cost-effective monitoring of mixtures of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in residences

Author
Gammage, R. B.
Published
United States : [publisher not identified], 1985
Springfield, Va.: National Technical Information Service, [approximately 1985]
Physical Description
microfiche : negative ; 11 x 15 cm

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Summary
Volatile organic compounds (VOC) in indoor air are an important and inescapable component of everyone's exposure to complex mixtures of organics. A tiered approach is outlined for the cost-effective monitoring of VOC. At the coarsest level, a hand-held, direct-reading photoionization detector (PID) is suitable for rapid screening, or following temporal changes if the concentrations are high enough. Readings can be expressed as benzene, or some other VOC, equivalent units. Moderately sophisticated measurements can be made in near real time using a portable GC with a PID. Several of the more abundant hydrocarbons, such as benzene, toluene, and straight and branched chain alkanes are usually measurable in indoor air samples. Passive monitoring devices based on Tenax GC sorbent show promise for the future. The sophisticated method of choice for the collection and definitive analysis of VOC is sorbent trapping on Tenax GC and carbonaceous resins with subsequent thermal desorption and analysis by selected-ion mass spectroscopy. Measurements made inside homes in East Tennessee show that overall levels of VOC are usually in the range of a few tenths to a few mg/m3. Gasoline fumes are a major component of the VOC, especially where the house has an attached garage. Chlorinated alkanes and alkenes comprise a smaller fraction of the total VOC, usually being present at sum concentrations of a tenth of a mg/m3 or less. In all types of measurement it was verified that indoor concentrations of VOC exceed those found outdoors.
Report Numbers
DE86008889; CONF-851027-10
Other Subject(s)
Collection
NTIS collection.
Note
DOE contract number: AC05-84OR21400
OSTI Identifier 5933956
Research organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA).
View MARC record | catkey: 47364305